First Nations First

New data from the New South Wales government suggests there's a record number of Aboriginal adults in custody in the state. Advocacy groups are calling for community-led solutions nationally to combat the over-representation of Indigenous adults and children in custody.

This is the legacy of Rottnest Island, now a popular tourist destination off the coast of Perth - thousands of First Nations men and boys sent to suffer or die on a prison island in horrific circumstances. Descendants of those who were imprisoned there have now come together to commemorate the island's traumatic past and celebrate the resilience of their people.

As the new Northern Territory government implements the tough-on-crime policies that helped bring them to office, access to legal aid is being cut back sharply, raising concerns vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will be left to defend themselves in court.

Senator Lidia Thorpe has defended her protest during the King's visit to Canberra. She says her calls for a treaty have garnered international attention, and has furthered the national conversation. But the headlines remain squarely on her eligibility as a senator. Listen to her full interview with SBS Chief Political Correspondent Anna Henderson about the controversy.

An anti-racism group has released figures that it says show racial profiling is still happening in Victoria's police force. Using Freedom of Information laws, researchers have collated four years of police reports which they say paint a damning picture of who gets targeted. But Victoria Police has defended itself against the claims.

A traditional healing ceremony has been held in Darwin for the families of three US Marines who died during a training exercise over the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory. Around two dozen personnel were on board an Osprey aircraft when it crashed on the remote Melville Island, north of Darwin, in August last year.

A free community laundry service has seen encouraging results in reducing the prevalence of skin infections and scabies in remote Northern Territory communities. Untreated scabies infestations can lead to dangerous secondary infections, which can then be a factor in causing rheumatic heart disease.

Aboriginal tenants in Western Australia have launched a class action against state housing authorities, alleging severe neglect of their homes. It comes amid a housing crisis nationwide. The tenants are seeking justice for years of substandard living conditions, highlighting a need for accountability and urgent reforms.

The landmark report makes ten recommendations for federal, state and territory governments and calls on government to co-design solutions with First Nations communities. It's also called for a review into existing police practices in each jurisdiction.

Indigenous knowledge will - for the first time - be a focus of the Federal Government's set of scientific priorities. The National Science and Research Priorities will guide Australian science and research efforts for the next decade, replacing the current framework, published in 2015.