The Northern Territory Government has tabled the Legislative Scrutiny Committee’s report into the Care and Protection of Children Legislation Amendment (Every Child Matters) Bill 2026. Despite the report documenting substantial evidence opposing these amendments and the harm they are expected to cause, the Committee has recommended the Bill proceed.
This decision will cause harm to First Nations children.

The report details repeated concerns these amendments weaken the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, reduce the role of First Nations families and communities in decisions about their children and increase the risk of children being separated from family, culture and Country. It also documents extensive evidence that child protection involvement continues to be driven by failures in housing, healthcare, early support and lack of self determination.

Successive Northern Territory Governments have failed to invest in the conditions that keep our children safe. Families need safe housing, healthcare, early support, healing, strong culture and community leadership. This legislation delivers none of those things. It dismantles one of the few legislative protections specifically designed to protect the rights of First Nations children.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle exists because governments removed Aboriginal children from their families under policies that caused intergenerational harm and continue to shape the child protection system today.

Children’s Ground condemns the Northern Territory Government’s decision to proceed with this legislation. The Northern Territory Government’s conduct has led to the resignation of Northern Territory Children’s Commissioner Shahleena Musk, who has consistently provided critical independent advice and clarity to government to protect the rights and safety of First Nations children in the Northern Territory.

The safety of our children is paramount. We stand with the First Nations people advocating for evidence based and informed decision making.

Every child has the right to grow up safe. For First Nations children, that includes culture and Country and family. This legislation weakens those rights, deepens a system that is already failing our children and represents a complete failure of leadership.