CONTENT WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this email may contain the names and images of First Nations people who are deceased. If you are experiencing distress and are in need of support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 13YARN on 13 92 76 for First Nations readers.
We hope you had a great NAIDOC Week and found ways to celebrate the 50th year of this national week to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survival, voices and culture.
We encourage our supporters to continue to reflect and honour First Nations people, remembering that every day we walk on stolen lands. You can take action anytime by calling out racism and discrimination on the First Nations Racism Register.
This month we saw the findings from the inquest into the 2019 death of Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu. We pay our deepest respects to Mr Walker’s family and community who have been advocating tirelessly for justice, truth and accountability for almost six years. The Coroner delivered landmark findings vindicating what Aboriginal communities have always known – that individual police officers and the police institution itself is systemically racist. Read more at the Guardian.
We are proud to work with Yung Prodigy, an organisation led by young people impacted by incarceration. Yung Prodigy have launched a new campaign ‘Freedom on the line’ advocating to eliminate the excessive and prohibitive call costs for people in custody to promote connection, rehabilitation and social and emotional wellbeing for people who are incarcerated.
Catch up on the latest news from the National Justice Project below.
GIVING | Thanks
A huge thank you to everyone who got behind our end-of-financial-year campaign on discrimination in healthcare. Words cannot express how truly appreciative we are of your ongoing support.
Your incredible generosity helped to exceed our target of $200,000. This will have a huge impact for our courageous clients and enable us to continue the fight to dismantle discrimination in healthcare.
From the entire team, THANK YOU!
CALLING | Out Racism
The National Justice Project has supported an Aboriginal family in filing a racial discrimination claim against the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) following traumatic events at a polling booth during the 2023 Voice Referendum. Community are encouraged to share their stories of racism via Call It Out.
POLICING | In Schools
Our Alternative First Responders team collaborated with the National Indigenous Youth Education Coalition to highlight their School Exclusion Project, which documents school exclusion practices and the school-to-prison pipeline across the nation. We echo the report’s concerns about the presence of police in schools and the harm it causes.
WELCOMING | Cindy’s Law Introduction
We were honoured to join the family of Cindy Smith as the Attorney General introduced ‘Cindy’s Law’ to NSW parliament in direct response to the 2023 inquest examining the tragic and systemic failures surrounding the deaths of two First Nations teenagers. The changes aim to close a legal loophole enabling offenders to go unpunished for assaults when the time of death is unknown.
WATCHING | Webinar Recording
If you missed our webinar last month on lessons for Australia from what is happening to due process and human rights in the United States, the recording is now available online.
ENDORSING | Human Rights Report
Australia's human rights are sliding backwards, according to a new report submitted to the United Nations today from more than 150 organisations.
HIGHLIGHTING | In the Media
The National Justice Project advocates for our clients in the courts as well as in the news media, especially around issues on human rights, discrimination and justice reform.
Here are some highlights from the past month:
- Deaths in Custody: When will it stop? The family of Kumanjayi White calls for action Video (5 mins) via National Indigenous Television, 21 July 2025
- The National Justice Project Is Calling for Alternative First Responders to Police: An Interview via Sydney Criminal Lawyers, 17 July 2025
- Aboriginal family takes AEC to court over alleged discrimination at Voice referendum polling booth via National Indigenous Times, 2 July 2025
- ‘Cindy’s Law’ follows tireless fight by families of Cindy and Mona Smith via ABC News, 25 June 2025
- ‘Cindy’s law’ – new NSW legislation closes legal loophole Video (6 mins) via NITV News, 25 June 2025
- ‘Cindy’s Law’ – Legal loophole to be closed after 37 years Video (6 mins) via ABC TV news, 25 June 2025
SUPPORTING | Ongoing Work
The National Justice Project is funded by people like you committed to the fight for social justice.
Donate Today
The National Justice Project is a Public Benevolent Institution endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) covered by Item 1 of the table in section 30-15 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. Donations of $2.00 or more are tax deductible.
To keep up to date with our strategic legal action and advocacy, visit our website or follow us on your preferred social media platform.
MORE:
National Justice Project (NJP)
Address: PO Box 123, Broadway NSW 2007
Tel: +61 2 9514 4440
We acknowledge that we live and work on the lands of First Nations Peoples, and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. Our Sydney office is located on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, whose sovereignty was never ceded. This land always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.