Indigenous advocates and families say tallying Australian deaths in custody does not address fundamental causes

Indigenous advocates and families say the government failed to consult with them about the database. Photograph: Richard Milnes/Rex/Shutterstock

Indigenous deaths in custody must stop rather than just be counted, families and advocates said after the government announced a real-time database to collect all custodial deaths as they happen.

The federal government revealed the new deaths in custody reporting system on Wednesday, with states and territories agreeing to provide more up-to-date figures on people dying in state and territory watch-houses, police stations, prisons and detention centres.