A broad range of topics made headlines in Indigenous affairs throughout 2025. National Indigenous Times looks back some of the most prominent stories from the past year.
Victorian Treaty
Victoria's Treaty process was formalised in November through the Statewide Treaty Act 2025, establishing Gellung Warl, a permanent body for First Peoples to advise the government, and creating arms for truth-telling (Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna) and accountability (Nginma Ngainga Wara).
Murujuga Cultural Landscape added to UNESCO World Heritage List
Recognising its immense Indigenous cultural value, Western Australia's Murujuga Cultural Landscape — home to more than a million ancient petroglyphs — was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July.
Kumanjayi Walker inquest
Concluding in July, the Kumanjayi Walker inquest found excessive force, flawed decision making and institutional racism within the Northern Territory Police Force contributed to the 19-year-old Warlpiri man's 2019 death.
Travis Lovett's Walk for Truth
Kerrupmara/Gunditjmara man and Yoorrook Commissioner Travis Lovett walked 500km from Portland to Parliament House in Naarm/Melbourne to raise awareness of the Yoorrook Justice Commission's work to create a better future based on truth.
Trial of Cassius Turvey's accused murderers
Three years after Cassius Turvey was assaulted on his way home from school, Jack Brearley and Brodie Palmer were found guilty of the 15-year-old's murder while Mitchell Forth was found guilty of manslaughter.
Western Australian Governor's apology at Pinjarra
Western Australian Governor, Chris Dawson, issued a formal apology in October to the Bindjareb Noongar people for the Pinjarra Massacre. Led by the colony's first governor, James Stirling, the 1834 event resulted in the killing of many Indigenous people.
Death of Kumanjayi White in Alice Springs in police custody
Disabled 24-year-old Warlpiri man Kumanjayi White died after being restrained by two plain clothes police officers in an Alice Springs supermarket following an alleged confrontation with security guards. The incident sparked nationwide protests and a coronial inquest into his death.
Cleveland Dodd inquest and the ongoing Unit 18 crisis
A coronial inquest into the death of 16-year-old Cleveland Dodd, who died after self-harming while detained in WA youth detention, found Unit 18 — the facility where he was being held — was "inhumane" and "reminiscent of 19th century jails".
Camp Sovereignty attacked by Neo-Nazis
Indigenous protest site Camp Sovereignty was violently stormed by 40-50 men, including members of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network, following a Melbourne anti-immigration rally.
Productivity Commission's report on the National Agreement on Closing the Gap
Published in July, the Productivity Commission report on Australia's performance towards the targets and indicators in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap found only four of 19 targets are on track to be met.
