In keeping with Indigenous practice, I want to begin by acknowledging the Ngunnawal people who have held ceremonies in this region for many thousands of years. Let me say that I appreciate this opportunity to give an Indigenous perspective on legal aid.
Legal aid is important to Indigenous communities.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported last week that there are now more people behind bars than ever. Western Australia followed with 870 and the Northern Territory with 440. But let's look at these figures another way. We see that in the Northern Territory 72.8 per cent of the prison population was Indigenous. Next highest was Western Australia with Indigenous people making up 33.1 per cent of the prison population and Queensland with 21.6 per cent.