More than 600 First Nations people have lost their lives in custody

The recorded number of First Peoples who have died in custody since 1991’s Royal Commission has significantly increased to over 600.

This comes as the NT Government is pushing through laws targeting children which will see the removal of detention as a last resort, including making young offenders ineligible for justice diversion programs for certain offences.

Senator Lidia Thorpe is joining with First Nations organisations calling on the Government to suspend federal funding to the Northern Territory for policing and prisons, until the jurisdiction moves to reduce incarceration of First Peoples and children.

Image: Wikimedia-Commons-DrRandomFactor

Produced By: Micah Kickett

Featured In Story: Independent Senator – Lidia Thorpe , and

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 31 July 2025