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Australia indigenous policy delivers mixed results: PM Australia indigenous policy delivers mixed results: PM
(about 3 hours later)
Australia's Prime Minister has admitted government efforts to help improve the lives of indigenous Australians are not on track in key areas. Australia's prime minister has admitted government efforts to help improve the lives of indigenous Australians are not on track in key areas.
Malcolm Turnbull tabled his first response to the annual Closing the Gap report in Parliament on Wednesday.Malcolm Turnbull tabled his first response to the annual Closing the Gap report in Parliament on Wednesday.
The report tracks progress on targets to reduce inequality between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.The report tracks progress on targets to reduce inequality between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
Mr Turnbull said a concerted effort was needed as the Closing the Gap initiative's success rate was mixed.Mr Turnbull said a concerted effort was needed as the Closing the Gap initiative's success rate was mixed.
"It is undeniable that progress against targets has been variable," he wrote in the report's introduction."It is undeniable that progress against targets has been variable," he wrote in the report's introduction.
The report said a target to halve the gap in mortality rates for indigenous children under five within a decade (by 2018) was on track.The report said a target to halve the gap in mortality rates for indigenous children under five within a decade (by 2018) was on track.
Smoking rates had reduced and the number of indigenous students finishing high school had almost doubled since the late 1990s, the report said.Smoking rates had reduced and the number of indigenous students finishing high school had almost doubled since the late 1990s, the report said.
But targets to halve the gaps in employment and life expectancy between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians were not on track.But targets to halve the gaps in employment and life expectancy between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians were not on track.
'Engagement problem''Engagement problem'
Indigenous leaders have called for stronger engagement with communities in order to deliver the most appropriate policy.Indigenous leaders have called for stronger engagement with communities in order to deliver the most appropriate policy.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda co-chairs the Aboriginal-led Close the Gap public awareness campaign that is separate to the government's Closing the Gap initiative, but shares its objectives of reducing inequality.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda co-chairs the Aboriginal-led Close the Gap public awareness campaign that is separate to the government's Closing the Gap initiative, but shares its objectives of reducing inequality.
Mr Gooda told the BBC the government needed to focus on speaking to communities to ensure its policies would have an impact.Mr Gooda told the BBC the government needed to focus on speaking to communities to ensure its policies would have an impact.
"Building relationships with communities takes time, [but] it seems the government would prefer to spend $1m developing a program that doesn't work than $1m building a relationship," he said."Building relationships with communities takes time, [but] it seems the government would prefer to spend $1m developing a program that doesn't work than $1m building a relationship," he said.
Health services had always been a problem for indigenous communities, Mr Gooda said.Health services had always been a problem for indigenous communities, Mr Gooda said.
Language and cultural barriers, along with remoteness, made it challenging for some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to seek care until it was too late.Language and cultural barriers, along with remoteness, made it challenging for some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to seek care until it was too late.
"If Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aren't going to hospital early to fix up things like chronic disease we may as well not have any services at all," he said."If Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aren't going to hospital early to fix up things like chronic disease we may as well not have any services at all," he said.
Yawuru leader Patrick Dodson said indigenous communities did not have a buy-in to policies, and without proper participation Closing the Gap was "doomed to fail" or would have only a small impact.Yawuru leader Patrick Dodson said indigenous communities did not have a buy-in to policies, and without proper participation Closing the Gap was "doomed to fail" or would have only a small impact.
"We're basically just changing the tablecloth on a table without really realising that the white ants are eating the legs out of the table, and we have to restructure the whole basis of our relationship," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corp."We're basically just changing the tablecloth on a table without really realising that the white ants are eating the legs out of the table, and we have to restructure the whole basis of our relationship," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Closing the Gap: Key targets and progressClosing the Gap: Key targets and progress
Targets in the Closing the Gap initiative focus on differences between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians in key areas.Targets in the Closing the Gap initiative focus on differences between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians in key areas.
Election priority callElection priority call
The Closing the Gap report calls for both political parties to make indigenous health a top priority going into the election, rumoured to be held later in the year.The Closing the Gap report calls for both political parties to make indigenous health a top priority going into the election, rumoured to be held later in the year.
The report also recommends including new targets to address the high indigenous rate of incarceration, a focus on disability support, and a national inquiry into racism and institutional racism in the health care system.The report also recommends including new targets to address the high indigenous rate of incarceration, a focus on disability support, and a national inquiry into racism and institutional racism in the health care system.
Prime Minister Turnbull has called for a doubling of efforts to build trust and develop respectful relationships in order to provide more effective "local solutions".Prime Minister Turnbull has called for a doubling of efforts to build trust and develop respectful relationships in order to provide more effective "local solutions".
He also promoted his central theme of an "ideas boom", urging indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs to take advantage of government programs.He also promoted his central theme of an "ideas boom", urging indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs to take advantage of government programs.
"Our greatest assets are walking around on top of the ground not underneath it. Valuable though all those minerals are. I don't short-change them but you and millions of other Australians like you are our best assets," he said on Tuesday."Our greatest assets are walking around on top of the ground not underneath it. Valuable though all those minerals are. I don't short-change them but you and millions of other Australians like you are our best assets," he said on Tuesday.