Unfinished Business: ALRM’s Review of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
In July 2025, the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (ALRM) released its report Unfinished Business: A Review of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC). The document revisits the landmark Royal Commission’s findings from over three decades ago and examines how far Australia has come—and how far it still has to go—in addressing Aboriginal deaths in custody and the underlying drivers of over-representation in the criminal justice system.
The 1991 Royal Commission – A Blueprint for Reform
The RCIADIC, handed down in 1991, delivered 339 recommendations. These covered far more than custodial practices—they called for structural change across:
Policing and justice – including safer custody procedures, alternatives to incarceration, and culturally informed policing.
Coronial processes – ensuring independent, thorough, and transparent investigations into deaths in custody.
Health, housing, and education – recognising that social disadvantage is a key driver of imprisonment.
Employment and economic opportunity – as part of a holistic approach to justice.
Self-determination – empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to take control of their own governance and services.
The Commission stressed that reducing incarceration rates could not be achieved without tackling these broader social inequalities.
Progress Since 1991 – Partial but Uneven
ALRM’s review acknowledges areas of improvement. For example:
Deaths in custody rates have decreased in relative terms since the 1990s.
Some policing and custodial practices have been reformed, including better health checks and monitoring in custody.
Certain social services and community-led justice initiatives have been implemented.
However, the report is clear: these gains have not been enough.
The Harsh Reality – Incarceration Rates Rising
Despite the Royal Commission’s focus on reducing imprisonment, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are now more than twice as likely to be in prison compared to the early 1990s. Over-policing, systemic bias, and insufficient investment in community-driven alternatives remain persistent barriers to change.
Why It’s Still ‘Unfinished Business’
The ALRM highlights that many of the 339 recommendations have never been fully implemented. Some have been ignored entirely. Systemic issues remain entrenched:
Lack of independent oversight of deaths in custody.
Failure to address the root causes of disadvantage—poverty, unemployment, housing shortages, and poor health outcomes.
Minimal progress on true self-determination and community control.
The report also calls out the absence of consistent national accountability, noting that responsibility for implementation has been fragmented across jurisdictions.
A Call to Renew Commitment
ALRM’s message is clear—governments must recommit to the full spirit and intent of the RCIADIC’s recommendations. That means:
Embedding community-controlled justice and health initiatives.
Creating robust, independent oversight mechanisms.
Addressing the social determinants of incarceration in a sustained, measurable way.
Ensuring transparent public reporting on progress.
For legal professionals, advocates, and policymakers, the report is a timely reminder that reform is not just about legislative change—it’s about reshaping systems to deliver real justice and equality.
The unfinished work of the RCIADIC is not simply a historical matter—it is an urgent, ongoing responsibility.
You can read the full ALRM report here.