Despite Western Australian Labor’s rhetoric on equality and Closing the Gap, incarcerated First Nations people remain politically invisible. Without formal representation and lived-experience voices in party deliberations, meaningful reform is impossible. The 2027 State Labor Conference is the moment to change that.

Incarcerated First Nations people remain politically invisible in Western Australia, and this invisibility is a major barrier to addressing the state’s escalating incarceration crisis. If the Labor Party is to meet its commitments to Closing the Gap – particularly the target of reducing First Nations incarceration by at least 15 per cent by 2031 – it must confront the reality that those most affected by punitive policies have no voice within political deliberation. Representation at the 2027 State Labor Conference is an essential step towards overcoming the barrier and undertaking necessary reform.

Labor’s blind spot

At the recent State Labor Party Conference, I listened closely for a plan to address this crisis. Speakers repeatedly invoked Labor’s belief that all people are created equal in their entitlement to dignity and respect and should have an equal chance to achieve their potential. Ministers highlighted achievements and projects for health, housing, and education – each backed by substantial funding. One minister emphasised that these initiatives are foundational to a “fair and decent society.”

Yet the gulf between what is promised to most Western Australians and what is delivered to incarcerated First........

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