Indigenous deaths in custody in Australia hit highest level since 1980Indigenous prisoners account for more than a third of Australia's total populationThe figures come more than three decades after a landmark inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody which made hundreds of recommendations. The number of Indigenous people who have died in custody in Australia has hit the highest level since records began in 1980. The remaining six Indigenous deaths in custody happened in police custody, where someone has died while police were detaining or attempting to detain them. The main cause of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted" followed by "natural causes," the report found. The Australian state of New South Wales recorded the highest number of Indigenous deaths in prison custody with nine, followed by Western Australia with six.