National Commissioner, the Prime Minister’s Closing the Gap address, and the launch of the Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices, and more – SNAICC in the News

February has been a significant month for SNAICC’s advocacy. The announcement of legislation empowering the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, the Prime Minister’s Closing the Gap address, and the launch of the Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices national plan each reflect years of work by our sector. Our Family Matters 2025 report continued to drive national conversation throughout.  

Here is a look at where SNAICC has been in the news, 1 to 17 February. 

Decades of Advocacy Delivered: National Commissioner Legislation

Legislation giving the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People the teeth it deserves was announced by the Federal Government. SNAICC has called for a fully independent and legislated Commissioner for more than four decades. Coverage ran across ABC NewsRadio, NITV News, SBS World News, and Alice Springs radio. 

On the floor of parliament, members across the chamber acknowledged SNAICC’s advocacy since 1991 as “instrumental” in reaching this point. Catherine Liddle’s words were quoted directly in the debate:

“The National Commissioner can finally serve as it was always intended – a true accountability mechanism to ensure governments follow through on their commitments to our children and families.”

Speaking on ABC Alice Springs Drive, Catherine described the Commissioner as a mechanic who can finally look under the hood of a broken system, diagnose what is not working, and drive the change our children deserve. 

See the NIT store here

Closing the Gap: SNAICC Named from the Floor of Parliament 

In his annual Closing the Gap address, Prime Minister Albanese mentioned the work of SNAICC and CEO Catherine Liddle, while explaining how early childhood education and care was central to Closing the Gap.     

The report made significant note of the success of the Connected Beginnings program, which brings early childhood education, health services, family supports and community leadership together in a coordinated approach, so education and health investments reinforce each other. 

Catherine welcomed the focus but was clear that investment must follow through:

“Closing the gap starts with our children. We need Government to stay on this path and double down on the programs that are proven to get better results.”

“Governments, including the Commonwealth, will not achieve Closing the Gap outcomes in the early years unless ACCO services are equipped to manage increasingly complex operational, funding and regulatory environments.”

Catherine spoke on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, and spoke about the importance on investing in ACCO’s:

“The evidence is clear: invest in community-led solutions. Invest in communities, and we will see a massive change in what is happening with our families.”

Read SNAICC’s full statement here:

A Historic Step for Family Safety: Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices 

SNAICC Chair Aunty Muriel Bamblett and CEO Catherine Liddle joined advocates at Parliament House to launch Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices, the first national plan to address domestic and family violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, written by and for our communities. Coverage ran across ABC News, The Border Mail, South Western Times, Yahoo News, and PerthNow. 

The plan’s prevention focus reflects what SNAICC has long argued. As Catherine said: 

“Safety starts earlier, with family support, healing and culturally-grounded programs that keep children connected to family and community.”

SNAICC’s Chairperson Aunty Muriel Bamblett spoke on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing about the launch

Calling Out Queensland: Accountability Starts with the Data 

When the annual Report on Government Services was released in early February, child protection data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Queensland was missing. 

For a state with one of the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth populations in the country, SNAICC described the absence as negligent. Catherine Liddle called it out directly in the National Indigenous Times: 

“Queensland’s data feeds directly into national accountability mechanisms. When that data is missing, transparency is lost. Each missing data point represents a child’s life and lived experience.”

Queensland’s failure undermines Target 12 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, which aims to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care by 45 per cent by 2031. The Family Matters 2025 report relies on complete national data to hold governments to account. SNAICC has called on Queensland to explain how it will address the gaps as a matter of urgency. 

Catherine spoke on ABC Brisbane Drive with Ellen Fanning, NITV Radio, and SBS Radio, making the case that community-led solutions are the only credible path forward. 

Read the NIT coverage on Queensland’s missing data here.