The Wire

There has been a rise in the number of people who identify as an Aboriginal and Torres Islander. According to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has reached 669,900, an increase of more than 150,000 since the 2006 Census.

Whilst the growth may indicate people feeling more comfortable identifying themselves as an Indigenous Australian, experts say it may also indicate the reduction in mortality rates and the increase in fertility rates across Australia.