Australian Human Rights Commission Information for List of Issues on Australia, 29 September 2017 9.2 Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their families 44. 2017 commemorates the 20 year anniversary of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families conducted by the Commission (the Bringing Them Home Report). 45. The Commission is concerned about the vulnerability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children given the current overrepresentation of Indigenous children in Australia’s child protection system.65 46. The Commission has welcomed the establishment of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, which includes an examination of child protection in the Northern Territory,66 as well as the establishment of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2012 to investigate the sexual abuse of children within private, public and non-government institutions, including an examination of abuse of children in out of home care. These Royal Commissions are both due to report later this year. Issues for consideration in the LOI:  Information on steps taken by the Australian Government to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children and their families to stay together and to reduce high rates of contact with the child protection system.  Information on State, Territory and Federal Government’s responses to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, particularly as they relate to child protection issues. 9.3 Social security 47. The Commission has previously reported on the Cashless Debit Card and its impact on the exercise and enjoyment of human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including women, in the last two Social Justice and Native Title Reports.67 48. While the Commission commends the Australian Government in their intentions to reduce individual, family and community harm, particularly resulting from alcohol use, evidence shows that income management is not a satisfactory method to address the core drivers of addiction and harmful behaviours.68 49. The Commission also remains concerned that the overall impact of the card continues to disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and families, and where the Cashless Debit Card takes a blanket mandatory approach and is not a community-led initiative, this 11