Without changing the approach to Closing the Gap, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will continue to “pay the price”, Indigenous organisations say. Source: Canberra Times.
Just four of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track to be met, according to the latest data from the Productivity Commission.
But key targets, including adult imprisonment rates, children in out-of-home care, suicide and childhood development are continuing to worsen.
While there have been improvements in Year 12 attainment, tertiary education and housing access, these are not on track to meet deadlines.
“It’s not enough to hope the gap will close, governments must hold themselves to account for the commitments they’ve made under the National Agreement,” Coalition of Peaks lead convener Pat Turner said.
“That requires smart investment, longer-term flexible funding, and full implementation of the four Priority Reforms – shifting power, not just policy,” Ms Turner said.
“Without real power shift, we’ll keep seeing the same patterns repeat, and our people will continue to pay the price.”
Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council chief executive Paula Arnol said the latest Closing the Gap report card is disappointing.
“It’s 2025 and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are still not experiencing the health outcomes that non-Indigenous Australians enjoy. This is unacceptable,” she said.
The data follows a recent review of the Closing the Gap Agreement commissioned by the Coalition of Peaks.
The review found Indigenous community-controlled organisations are key to progress, and governments must listen to First Nations people and share decision-making power to create positive change.
Productivity commissioner Selwyn Button said the review shows the outcomes of the agreement are falling well short of what governments have committed to.
“What the outcomes in the Agreement reflect most of all is the limited progress of governments in collectively acting on the Priority Reforms: sharing decision making and data with communities; strengthening the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector and changing the way governments operate,” Mr Button said.
FULL STORY
Calls for a power shift as Close the Gap targets worsen (By Keira Jenkins, Canberra Times)
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