SNAICC in the News for the week of 12 February 2024
The week of 12 February 2024 featured widespread media coverage of SNAICC, Closing the Gap and Catherine Liddle with notable advancements being made at the national level that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
The Federal Government made a groundbreaking announcement on the establishment of a National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People. This move is highly significant as it represents a key step towards addressing the welfare and rights of our children and youth on a national scale. Catherine Liddle, acting as both the CEO of SNAICC and the Acting Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, played an integral role in engaging with the media regarding this announcement. She effectively conveyed SNAICC’s perspective on the establishment of the National Commissioner, underscoring the organisation’s persistent advocacy efforts for its establishment. SNAICC has been amplifying the voices of our children for many years, including the development of policies and advocacy efforts, such as the Family Matters Report and Safe and Supported initiatives.
Additionally, the week also saw the tabling of the Closing the Gap 2023 Report and the 2024 Implementation Plan in Parliament. This event coincided with the 16th anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, adding particular cultural and symbolic significance to the occasion. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presented the government’s annual report on Closing the Gap progress for 2023 and outlined plans for implementation in 2024. Among the initiatives announced were a remote jobs program, real-time reporting on deaths in custody and the establishment of the National Commissioner, demonstrating a needed commitment to addressing the challenges faced by our communities around Australia. These developments represent a meaningful step forward in addressing the challenges our communities face.
For a comprehensive look at the events that happened, read the news and media stories linked below.
Topic: Announcement of National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced this week (13 February 2024) that a new position of National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People is to be established this year.
Catherine Liddle (SNAICC CEO) welcomed the announcement, stating that the establishment of a National Commissioner is the result of extensive discussions SNAICC has had with government, as we have long advocated (see Family Matters Report and Safe and Supported) for a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner to address the over-representation of young people in out-of-home care and youth detention. The announcement comes after the first of three-yearly reviews of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap was released on 7 February 2024 by the Productivity Commission, which included a strong recommendation that governments need to move out of a business-as-usual mindset and embrace power-sharing arrangements.
See the response to our Media Release and media engagements in the full articles below.
Read our Media Release
Article: Govt announces new National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people – SBS News (published: 14 Feb)
Excerpt:
“Ms Liddle says that the appointment of a new Commissioner will help in addressing the Closing the Gap targets.
“The National Commissioner will be the champion, the voice and facilitator for our children, young people and families, and who will hold governments to account.
“They will help turn the tide of our children being over-represented in out of home care, and one of the key targets under Closing the Gap.”“
Read the full article
Article: National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People welcomed by Indigenous childcare sector – National Indigenous Radio Service (published: 14 Feb)
Excerpt:
“The CEO of SNAICC, Catherine Liddle, says it’s especially fitting that the much-needed mechanism was announced on the 16th anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.
“This is the day that we are reminded of the horrific impact of government policies, and the horrific impact those policies have had on our children, and our families, and our communities, even today.”“
Read the full article
Article: National Commissioner appointment will be a game changer for First Nations children – The Sector (published: 14 Feb)
Excerpt:
“The appointment, SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle said, will be “a game changer” for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, and will focus on advocating for evidence-based change to policies and systems that will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children grow up safe, connected to their family and cultural identity.
“Our sector and our communities have been calling for a National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children for many years, to tackle the over-representation of young people in out-of-home care and youth detention,” she said.“
Read the full article
Topic: Closing the Gap 2023 Annual Report and 2024 Implementation Plan
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tabled his government’s Closing the Gap annual report for 2023 and implementation plan for 2024 at parliament this week (13 February 2024) on the 16th anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.
The Report and Plan comes after the first of three-yearly reviews of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap was released on 7 February 2024 by the Productivity Commission. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders have welcomed the Albanese government’s approach to working with them to Close the Gap, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing several new initiatives, including a National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, a remote jobs program and real-time reporting on deaths in custody. The 2023 Annual Report evaluates the Commonwealth’s performance against the actions outlined in the 2023 Implementation Plan, while the 2024 Implementation Plan is more forward-looking, outlining the Commonwealth’s strategic priorities for Closing the Gap over the coming year.
Read the full articles below.
Find out more about Closing the Gap
TV Interview: Government promising change after damning outcomes in latest Closing the Gap Report – Catherine Liddle on The Project (Channel 10) (broadcast: 13 Feb)
Excerpt:
“Catherine Liddle is a proud Arrernte and Luritja woman and is the CEO of SNAICC, the National Voice for Our Children, and she told The Project that closing the gap all starts with children.
“Today’s announcement about standing up a National Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander children and families commissioner is a massive step forward,” Catherine said, adding it was “an absolute gamechanger”.
“When you look at those targets that are off track, all of them directly relate to how children are nurtured in their early years,” she said.“
Watch the full interview
TV News Segment: Closing the Gap report released – ABC News (broadcast: 13 Feb)
Excerpt:
CATHERINE LIDDLE: “When we look at the system failings, we are very, very good at supporting foster carers to wrap around these children. What we haven’t done is give the same level of support to the families that actually look after children.”
“If you’re on a remote community where services aren’t available, your child might be removed from you, not because you’re failing to care for them but because the doctor and specialist services aren’t there.“
Watch the full segment
Article: Anniversary of stolen generations apology brings mixed feelings – The Age (published: 12 Feb)
Excerpt:
“Last year’s Family Matters report, produced by non-government peak body Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care, found while Indigenous children made up for only 6 per cent of all children in Australia, they represented around 43 per cent of the total children in out-of-home care. And the numbers have continued to increase, from 22,243 at June 2021 to 22,328 at June 2022.
Nationwide, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were almost six times more likely than non-Indigenous children to be reported to child protection authorities, with continued high rates of pre-birth notifications for unborn Indigenous babies, and the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants under the age of one year from their mothers.“
Read the full article
Media Release: Next steps on Closing the Gap: delivering remote jobs – The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia (published: 13 Feb)
Excerpt:
“Establishing the National Commissioner is the result of extensive discussions with the peak body, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, which has been calling for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner for many years.“
Read the full Media Release
Audio/Radio Report: Closing the Gap report tabled on anniversary of Stolen Generations apology – The World Today (ABC) (broadcast: 13 Feb)
Excerpt:
“The government has released its first Closing the Gap update since October’s failed Voice to Parliament referendum, after earlier marking the 16th anniversary of the national apology to the Stolen Generations. This audio news report features Michael McCleod, stolen generations survivor, Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Catherine Liddle, Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations and SNAICC CEO.“
Listen to the full report
Article: Closing the Gap: Anthony Albanese condemns ‘inexcusable’ findings on Indigenous disadvantage – The Guardian (published: 13 Feb)
Excerpt:
“Catherine Liddle, the CEO of SNAICC, the national voice for Indigenous children, called the announcement “groundbreaking” that would “help turn the tide” on out-of-home care.
“The National Commissioner will be the champion, the voice and facilitator for our children, young people and families, and who will hold governments to account,” Liddle said.“
Read the full article
Article: 16 years on from Stolen Generations apology speech, advocates call for more action to close the gap on Indigenous out-of-home care – ABC (published: 13 Feb)
Excerpt:
“The 2023 Family Matters report from the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) shows more than 22,000 First Nations Children are currently in out-of-home care across Australia, and are 10 times more likely to be removed from home than non-Indigenous Children.
It also shows that nationally, 42 per cent of children in out-of-home care are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, despite making up only 5 per cent of the population of Australian children.“
Read the full article
Media Release: Importance of play in closing the gap for First Nations families and children – The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, Ministers for the Department of Social Services (published: 14 Feb)
Excerpt:
“The Government is working with SNAICC – National Voice for our Children to develop a playgroups pilot that is culturally-informed and incorporates community views to deliver a number of new playgroups for First Nations families.
An additional $31,660 has been committed to the pilot for investment in First Nations toy libraries, building on the Government’s $1.1 million investment in Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver First Nations playgroups.“
Read the full Media Release