On 4 March 2015, the following matter was referred to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for inquiry and report by the 10 August 2015:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experience of law enforcement and justice services, with particular reference to:

1. the extent to which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians have access to legal assistance services;
2. the adequacy of resources provided to Aboriginal legal assistance services by state, territory and Commonwealth governments;
3. the benefits provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by Family Violence Prevention Legal Services;
4. the consequences of mandatory sentencing regimes on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incarceration rates;
5. the reasons for the high incarceration rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, women and juveniles;
6. the adequacy of statistical and other information currently collected and made available by state, territory and Commonwealth governments regarding issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice;
7. the cost, availability and effectiveness of alternatives to imprisonment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, including prevention, early intervention, diversionary and rehabilitation measures;
8. the benefits of, and challenges to, implementing a system of ‘justice targets‘; and
9. any other relevant matters.