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The tally of Indigenous people losing their lives while in detention in Australia has climbed to its highest point since records began in 1980.

Recently released statistics reveal that 33 of the 113 people who died in custody in the year ending in June were Indigenous. This marks an uptick from 24 deaths in the previous equivalent period.

Indigenous Australian people are grossly represented in the criminal justice system. They constitute over 33% of all prisoners, even though comprising less than four per cent of the national population.

These sobering statistics come to light over three decades after a pivotal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which made hundreds of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, twenty-six occurred while in a correctional facility, which is an rise from 18 in the prior year.

One death was in youth detention, and the vast majority of the deceased were men.

The other six fatalities happened in police custody, defined as a situation where someone dies while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The main cause of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-harm," with "illness." The data found that hanging was the cause in eight of the cases.

Geographic Breakdown

The Australian state of New South Wales had the highest number of Aboriginal deaths in correctional facilities with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory each had three deaths.

The increasing number of First Nations deaths in custody in this state is a "deeply distressing milestone," the state's chief medical examiner recently said.

In a recent statement, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this rising pattern was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths demanded "thorough and careful examination, dignity and responsibility."

Profile Details and Expert Response

The mean age of those who died was 45, and 11 of the deceased were awaiting a court sentencing.

A university expert, Amanda Porter, described the data as representing a "country-wide crisis" that requires "decisive action and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at several official inquiries with grieving families, stated very little has improved since the 1991 national inquiry that was established to address this issue.

"It's maddening to witness the number of investigations I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years past the royal commission, and the situation is getting increasingly worse," she commented.

From the time of the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 First Nations people have died in custody, which includes six in juvenile detention centers, according to the findings.