National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Act 2026.

The National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Act 2026 establishes a statutory framework for the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People and continues the National Commission that supports that office. The Act aims to promote the rights, interests, development, safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people under 25 years of age, strengthen accountability for government policies and services affecting them, identify systemic barriers, and support the exercise of their rights. The legislation requires that these objectives be pursued in a manner consistent with Indigenous cultures, communities and identities. The Act defines the functions, powers and independence of the National Commissioner. The Commissioner is empowered to promote coordination among government bodies, provide advice to the Commonwealth, undertake and commission research, deliver educational initiatives, engage in advocacy, conduct inquiries and make recommendations on systemic issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. The Commissioner is required to act independently, prioritise the best interests of children and young people, protect cultural identity and development, and operate consistently with relevant international human rights standards, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The office must be held by an Aboriginal person and/or Torres Strait Islander selected through a process involving Indigenous communities. The legislation also establishes mechanisms for information gathering, accountability and oversight.