Less than half of First Nations staff feel culturally safe at Queensland Indigenous affairs department

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 30, 2026

A survey revealed that only 42% of First Nations staff within Queensland’s Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships feel culturally safe at work, marking a sharp decline from the previous year and well below the government average. The results have intensified criticism of the LNP government’s treatment of Indigenous voices, coinciding with contentious policy changes and funding cuts related to Aboriginal programs and youth justice.

A recent internal survey reveals a significant decline in the proportion of First Nations staff who feel culturally safe working within Queensland’s Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships. The survey, conducted between August and September 2026 and tabled in state parliament on October 29, found that only 42% of Aboriginal employees responded positively to the statement, “As an Aboriginal person, I feel culturally safe at work.” This marks a 25 percentage point drop from the previous year and sits 16 points below the overall Queensland government average.

Among those surveyed, 26% were uncertain about their cultural safety at work, while 32% responded negatively. The findings have drawn sharp criticism from the state Labor opposition, which portrayed the results as evidence of a broader pattern of marginalisation of First Nations voices under the Liberal National Party (LNP) government.

Leeanne Enoch, Labor’s shadow minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships, described the survey outcomes as indicative of “a deliberate, systematic approach to minimising and diminishing First Nations voices right across the board.” She emphasized the concerning nature of Aboriginal public servants feeling unsafe within the very department tasked with Indigenous affairs.

In response, Fiona Simpson, the minister responsible for Indigenous partnerships, highlighted the government’s focus on “practical approaches” to restoring frontline services rather than symbolic measures pursued by the previous Labor administration. She addressed the survey during question time but did not contest the findings.

The leaked survey follows accusations from Indigenous barrister Joshua Creamer, who alleged that the current government is attempting to sideline First Nations input within the public service through a policy dubbed “project invisibility.” This critique references several recent decisions, including the defunding of Aboriginal programs such as Murri Watch, abandoning efforts to contest all new native title claims, rejecting the proposal to name a new state theatre after Indigenous poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal, and dismantling the state’s truth-telling and healing inquiry—an initiative implemented by Labor during its term.

Labor has further accused the government of imposing restrictive confidentiality agreements on not-for-profit organizations involved in residential care. A document tabled in parliament details that providers bidding for government contracts must agree to destroy confidential information upon request and are effectively barred from pursuing legal action against the department. Shannon Fentiman, Labor’s shadow child safety minister, criticized these terms, suggesting they are designed to prevent legal challenges and suppress dissent from service providers.

Child safety minister Amanda Stoker defended the government’s record, asserting that it has done more to highlight the complex challenges faced by vulnerable youth than the previous administration. This debate over youth justice policies coincides with the passage of a bill introducing harsher penalties for children who breach bail conditions, reflecting the government’s “adult time, adult crime” stance. The legislation, expected to pass with Labor’s support, mandates a one-year sentence for bail violations.

This week’s parliamentary sessions have also been marked by controversy surrounding funding cuts, including a $3 million reduction to the Youth Advocacy Centre, a prominent critic of the government’s youth justice approach. The unfolding developments underline the ongoing tensions between government and opposition over Indigenous affairs and youth justice in Queensland.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.