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The count of First Nations people dying while in custody in Australia has reached its highest point since the beginning of official data started in 1980.

Fresh data reveal that 33 of the 113 people who died in custody in the 12-month period ending in June have been identified as Indigenous. This marks an increase from 24 deaths in the prior equivalent period.

Indigenous Australian people are severely represented in the justice system. They make up over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, despite comprising less than four per cent of the national population.

These disturbing statistics emerge over three decades after a landmark royal commission into Indigenous deaths in custody, which made hundreds of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Statistics

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, 26 took place while in prison custody, which is an rise from 18 in the previous year.

One death occurred in youth detention, and all except one of the individuals were men.

The other six deaths took place in the custody of law enforcement, defined as a situation where someone dies while police are detaining them.

The main reason of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-harm," with "natural causes." The data found that asphyxiation was the cause in eight of the cases.

State-by-State Breakdown

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

The growing number of First Nations deaths in custody in this state is a "profoundly distressing milestone," the state's coroner recently stated.

In a recent statement, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this rising pattern was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths demanded "independent and careful scrutiny, respect and responsibility."

Demographic Details and Expert Reaction

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

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, described the figures as representing a "country-wide emergency" that requires "decisive action and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple coronial inquests with bereaved families, stated little has improved since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to tackle this crisis.

"It's infuriating to see the number of inquests I attend, the many memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years after the inquiry, and the situation is getting increasingly worse," she commented.

From the time of the landmark inquiry, a approximately 600 First Nations people have died in custody, which encompasses six in youth detention, according to the report.