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The tally of Indigenous people dying while in custody in Australia has reached its peak point since records started in 1980.

New figures show that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in custody in the 12-month period ending in June have been identified as Indigenous. This represents an uptick from 24 fatalities in the preceding corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain grossly represented in the justice system. They make up over 33% of all incarcerated individuals, despite representing less than four per cent of the country's people.

These sobering numbers come to light over three decades after a seminal royal commission into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of proposed changes.

Breakdown of the Recent Figures

Of the 33 Aboriginal deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, 26 occurred while in prison custody, which is an increase from 18 in the prior year.

A single death was in youth detention, and all except one of the individuals were male.

The other six deaths took place in the custody of law enforcement, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The leading reason of First Nations deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," followed by "natural causes." The report found that hanging was the cause in eight of the deaths.

State-by-State Breakdown

The state of New South Wales recorded the highest number of Indigenous deaths in prison custody with nine, followed by Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory all recorded three deaths.

The increasing number of First Nations deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing milestone," the state's chief medical examiner has said.

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

Demographic Information and Expert Reaction

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

A university associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the figures as representing a "national emergency" that requires "decisive action and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at several official inquiries with grieving families, stated little has changed since the 1991 royal commission that was established to address this crisis.

"It's heartbreaking to witness the number of investigations I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades after the royal commission, and the problem is getting progressively more severe," she commented.

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