Australian Labor Party’s Allyship with First Nations People: Rhetoric vs. Reality

For years, the Australian Labor Party has branded itself as the political champion of Indigenous rights. From symbolic gestures like the National Apology to promoting the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Labor has continuously positioned itself as an ally to First Nations people.

However, the statistics paint a vastly different picture – one where the promises of reconciliation, justice and equity remain unfulfilled, and where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities continue to face systemic disadvantage.

The Incarceration Crisis: A Broken Promise

One of the most damning indictments of Labor’s supposed commitment to First Nations people is the ever-increasing rate of Indigenous incarceration… And despite pledging to address the issue, the reality is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rates have skyrocketed with the latest data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) shows that the number of young Aboriginal people in custody has increased by 21 per cent in just one year.

So instead of confronting this failure head-on, NSW Premier Chris Minns recently defended the increase, attributing it to bail law changes rather than systemic discrimination.

However, the statistics suggest otherwise.

With Indigenous youth, who are disproportionately targeted by the justice system, now make up an alarming 57.3 per cent of the youth detention population, despite accounting for only a small fraction of the overall youth population in NSW.

In 2021, Labor reaffirmed its commitment to reducing Indigenous incarceration, promising to work towards the Closing the Gap target of reducing Indigenous adult imprisonment by 15 per cent by 2031.

But under their governance, the incarceration rate has risen instead of declined… and the disparity between words and actions couldn’t be starker.

Close the Gap: Empty Commitments

The Albanese government came into power in 2022 promising to reinvigorate the Closing the Gap agenda but the latest Productivity Commission report on Closing the Gap reveals a dismal state of affairs- out of 19 targets, only four are on track.

Incarceration rates, child removal rates and suicide rates among Indigenous people have all increased.

And one of the most concerning trends is child protection, with the rate of Indigenous children in out-of-home care has risen from 43 per 1,000 in 2019 to 54 per 1,000 in 2024.

But despite recommendations from the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody that Indigenous children should only be incarcerated as a last resort, successive governments (Labor include) have failed to act meaningfully.

Symbolism Over Substance

Labor often leans into symbolic gestures to demonstrate its support for Indigenous communities, from promoting the Voice referendum to endorsing National Reconciliation Week initiatives, the party frequently seeks to position itself as the progressive alternative to the Coalition.

But what good is symbolism when it is not backed by systemic change?

Because when Indigenous communities call for justice system reforms, they are met with platitudes instead of action.

And when Aboriginal leaders demand investment in grassroots solutions and community-led programs, they receive bureaucratic roadblocks instead of funding.

But the truth is, without genuine self-determination and the redistribution of power, Labor’s performative allyship does little to change the material conditions of Indigenous Australians.

The Path Forward: Systemic Change or More of the Same?

The Albanese government must go beyond performative gestures and take concrete action:

• Implementing justice reinvestment strategies that focus on rehabilitation rather than incarceration.
• Strengthening Indigenous-led programs that address the root causes of crime, such as poverty and lack of educational opportunities.
• Committing to true self-determination by funding grassroots Indigenous people and Indigenous-owned businesses.

Without systemic change, Labor’s legacy will be defined not by its rhetoric but by its failure to deliver for the First Nations people it claims to champion.

The time for performative politics is over – First Nations communities need real action, not just empty promises.