Justice Policy Partnership

The Justice Policy Partnership brings together representatives from the Coalition of Peaks, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts, and Australian, state and territory governments to take a joined-up approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice policy.

It is the first of 5 policy partnerships to be established under Priority Reform One of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Policy partnerships under the National Agreement will:

• drive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-led outcomes on Closing the Gap
• enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives, communities and organisations to negotiate and implement agreements with governments to implement all priority reforms under the National Agreement and policy specific and place-based strategies to support Closing the Gap
• support additional community-led development initiatives
• bring together all government parties, together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations and communities to the collective task of Closing the Gap.

Parties to the National Agreement have committed to reducing the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults held in incarceration by at least 15% by 2031 (target 10), and reducing the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (10-17 years) in detention by at least 30% by 2031 (target 11). The Justice Policy Partnership is focussed on reducing the disproportionate rate at which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are incarcerated.

The Agreement to Implement the Justice Policy Partnership sets out scope and purpose of the partnership as well as the roles and responsibilities of members.

Read a copy of the Agreement to Implement the Justice Policy Partnership.

Membership

The Justice Policy Partnership has members representing all Australian, state and territory governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members. This includes:

• 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members – 5 from Coalition of Peaks organisations and 5 independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members, selected by the Coalition of Peaks in an open and transparent expression of interest process
• 9 government members – 1 from the Australian Government and 1 each from state and territory governments (all senior officials).

The Justice Policy Partnership is co-chaired by the Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services and the Deputy Secretary of the Legal Services and Families Group in the federal Attorney‑General's Department.

Further details on the Justice Policy Partnership membership is contained in the Agreement to Implement.

Meetings of the Justice Policy Partnership

The Justice Policy Partnership has held meetings on:

• 17 March 2023
• 12-13 December 2022
• 5-6 September 2022
• 20-21 June 2022
• 28 March 2022
• 16 December 2021
• 23-24 September 2021

The Justice Policy Partnership has agreed to schedule the first two meetings for 2023 in March and June.

Read the meeting summaries

High level work plan

From September 2021 to September 2022, the Justice Policy Partnership will:

• make recommendations to Joint Council to reduce the over-incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• consider jurisdictional implementation plans relating to National Agreement justice outcomes
• agree on key justice policy areas for JPP consideration, to accelerate progress toward justice outcomes
• develop an Annual Report to the Joint Council on the actions of the JPP and its progress against objectives and targets
• develop a 3-year strategic plan aligning National Agreement priority reforms and agreed key justice policy areas
• develop a second work plan for 2022-2023.

Justice Policy Partnership Work Plan 2021-2022

Media enquiries

For media enquiries concerning the Justice Policy Partnership contact our Media team.