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The tally of Indigenous people losing their lives while in detention in Australia has hit its highest point since the beginning of official data started in 1980.

Fresh data reveal that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in detention in the 12-month period leading up to June have been identified as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an rise from 24 deaths in the preceding corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain severely overrepresented in the justice system. They make up more than one-third of all incarcerated individuals, despite comprising under 4% of the country's people.

These disturbing statistics come to light more than three decades after a landmark inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which made numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Recent Figures

Of the 33 Aboriginal deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, twenty-six occurred while in prison custody, which is an increase from 18 in the prior year.

A single death was in a juvenile facility, and the vast majority of the deceased were men.

The remaining six deaths took place in police custody, defined as when someone passes away while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

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

State-by-State Breakdown

The Australian state of New South Wales recorded the greatest number of Aboriginal deaths in prison custody with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory all recorded three deaths.

The growing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in this state is a "deeply distressing milestone," the state's chief medical examiner recently stated.

In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this upward trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "independent and careful examination, respect and accountability."

Profile Details and Expert Reaction

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

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the figures as reflecting a "national emergency" that requires "decisive action and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple coronial inquests with bereaved families, said little has improved since the 1991 national inquiry that aimed to tackle this crisis.

"It's heartbreaking to witness the number of inquests I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years after the royal commission, and the problem is getting increasingly more severe," she noted.

Since the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in custody, which includes six in youth detention, according to the findings.