'Indigenous affairs is 'a policy-free environment', says Marcia Langton Indigenous affairs is 'a policy-free environment', says Marcia Langton' diff viewer (3/4)

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~~Indigenous affairs is 'a policy-free environment', says Marcia Langton~~	Indigenous affairs is 'a policy-free environment', says Marcia Langton Indigenous affairs is 'a policy-free environment', says Marcia Langton
2016-12-17 17:45:12 UTC	2016-12-17 21:45:37 UTC (about 4 hours later)
Indigenous affairs is a “policy-free environment”, Marcia Langton has said in response to a report on Indigenous disadvantage which found just 34 programs of more than 1,000 could be adequately assessed.	Indigenous affairs is a “policy-free environment”, Marcia Langton has said in response to a report on Indigenous disadvantage which found just 34 programs of more than 1,000 could be adequately assessed.
On Thursday the Productivity Commission released its biannual report on Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage (OID), and found that while some indicators – including infant mortality, some educational outcomes and household income – had improved, rates of violence, incarceration, and mental illness continued to worsen.	On Thursday the Productivity Commission released its biannual report on Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage (OID), and found that while some indicators – including infant mortality, some educational outcomes and household income – had improved, rates of violence, incarceration, and mental illness continued to worsen.
The report was also highly critical of a lack of evaluation of the estimated $30bn of Indigenous programs and policy. It could only showcase a tiny proportion of successful case studies because of “a lack of rigorously evaluated programs in the Indigenous policy area”.	The report was also highly critical of a lack of evaluation of the estimated $30bn of Indigenous programs and policy. It could only showcase a tiny proportion of successful case studies because of “a lack of rigorously evaluated programs in the Indigenous policy area”.
“You want to know that money is being spent not just in terms of bang for buck for taxpayers, but that we’re not short-changing Indigenous Australians,” the deputy chair of the productivity commission, Karen Chester, told the ABC.	“You want to know that money is being spent not just in terms of bang for buck for taxpayers, but that we’re not short-changing Indigenous Australians,” the deputy chair of the productivity commission, Karen Chester, told the ABC.
Langton told the National Press Club on Thursday the fact so few organisations were assessable successes was “shocking by any standard” and showed that Indigenous affairs was a “policy-free environment”.	Langton told the National Press Club on Thursday the fact so few organisations were assessable successes was “shocking by any standard” and showed that Indigenous affairs was a “policy-free environment”.
“Not only is there no evaluation, there’s no evidence and there’s no policy,” she said.	“Not only is there no evaluation, there’s no evidence and there’s no policy,” she said.
The co-chair of the National Congress for Australia’s First Peoples Rod Little said governments needed to be held to account.	The co-chair of the National Congress for Australia’s First Peoples Rod Little said governments needed to be held to account.
“The biggest problem I have when OID report after report, and closing the gap reports are saying there hasn’t been a great deal of improvement, is that somebody has to be held to account,” he told Guardian Australia.	“The biggest problem I have when OID report after report, and closing the gap reports are saying there hasn’t been a great deal of improvement, is that somebody has to be held to account,” he told Guardian Australia.
“The objectives of the investment … are supposedly designed to influence social change, so if that’s not happening as reported by the OID then something is failing.”	“The objectives of the investment … are supposedly designed to influence social change, so if that’s not happening as reported by the OID then something is failing.”
While it found some improvements, the report revealed just three of the seven closing the gap targets and two of six headline indicators showed progress.	While it found some improvements, the report revealed just three of the seven closing the gap targets and two of six headline indicators showed progress.
The report found the rate of Indigenous incarceration increased 77% between 2000 and 2015, and the rate of hospitalisation of Indigenous women for family violence related assaults was 32 times that of non-Indigenous women.	The report found the rate of Indigenous incarceration increased 77% between 2000 and 2015, and the rate of hospitalisation of Indigenous women for family violence related assaults was 32 times that of non-Indigenous women.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are the most legally disadvantaged group in Australia,” Antoinette Braybrook, convenor of the National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services Forum told Guardian Australia.	“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are the most legally disadvantaged group in Australia,” Antoinette Braybrook, convenor of the National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services Forum told Guardian Australia.
“This report demonstrates that increased investment in Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Services is still required to meet the extremely high levels of unmet need.”	“This report demonstrates that increased investment in Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Services is still required to meet the extremely high levels of unmet need.”
The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said the worsening incarceration rates were extremely concerning, and the high rates of suicide and self harm – both rising – were “shocking and shameful”.	The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said the worsening incarceration rates were extremely concerning, and the high rates of suicide and self harm – both rising – were “shocking and shameful”.
“These are Indigenous-specific issues – the solutions must be designed and led by Indigenous communities,” Shorten told Guardian Australia.	“These are Indigenous-specific issues – the solutions must be designed and led by Indigenous communities,” Shorten told Guardian Australia.
“We need a greater emphasis on programs with a rigorous evidence base, as well as those with built-in evaluations. We will never close the gap if we do not establish what works, what doesn’t, and why.”	“We need a greater emphasis on programs with a rigorous evidence base, as well as those with built-in evaluations. We will never close the gap if we do not establish what works, what doesn’t, and why.”
Gerry Georgatos, suicide prevention and prison reform researcher and advocate, told Guardian Australia the suicide rate would keep increasing until the government “triaged” funding and focused on the poorest and most marginalised.	Gerry Georgatos, suicide prevention and prison reform researcher and advocate, told Guardian Australia the suicide rate would keep increasing until the government “triaged” funding and focused on the poorest and most marginalised.
He said about 90% of Indigenous people who took their own lives lived below the poverty line. A third of deaths among Indigenous people aged 15-35 and 30% of those among Indigenous children were suicide, Georgatos said.	He said about 90% of Indigenous people who took their own lives lived below the poverty line. A third of deaths among Indigenous people aged 15-35 and 30% of those among Indigenous children were suicide, Georgatos said.
“This is an abominable narrative.”	“This is an abominable narrative.”
The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation chair, Matthew Cooke, said disadvantage had been identified “many many times” and greater political will was needed to address all health and social determinants.	The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation chair, Matthew Cooke, said disadvantage had been identified “many many times” and greater political will was needed to address all health and social determinants.
“It’s good news that we’re having success in improving mortality rates for mothers and babies,” Cooke said.	“It’s good news that we’re having success in improving mortality rates for mothers and babies,” Cooke said.
“But we owe these children a better future than one where they’re at higher risk of dislocation from country and culture, poor mental health, suicide, family violence, imprisonment and poverty. We owe them the same future as every other Australian child.”	“But we owe these children a better future than one where they’re at higher risk of dislocation from country and culture, poor mental health, suicide, family violence, imprisonment and poverty. We owe them the same future as every other Australian child.”
Every Indigenous sector representative Guardian Australia spoke to said Indigenous involvement in the decision making and design process was key.	Every Indigenous sector representative Guardian Australia spoke to said Indigenous involvement in the decision making and design process was key.
The chief executive of the Lowitja Institute, Romlie Mokak, said there was still structural reform needed for Indigenous people to fully exercise self-determination.	The chief executive of the Lowitja Institute, Romlie Mokak, said there was still structural reform needed for Indigenous people to fully exercise self-determination.
“We’ve got to put down the hard work now around the social and cultural determinants of health. That can only be done with Aboriginal people in strong leadership positions in designing that agenda.”	“We’ve got to put down the hard work now around the social and cultural determinants of health. That can only be done with Aboriginal people in strong leadership positions in designing that agenda.”
The Indigenous affairs minister, Nigel Scullion, said the government was committed to working with First Australians.	The Indigenous affairs minister, Nigel Scullion, said the government was committed to working with First Australians.
“For too long, Canberra has been coming up with solutions that aren’t underpinned by a strong understanding of what is happening out in communities,” he said.	“For too long, Canberra has been coming up with solutions that aren’t underpinned by a strong understanding of what is happening out in communities,” he said.
“We are determined to listen and understand to ensure we get it right.”	“We are determined to listen and understand to ensure we get it right.”
Scullion said sometimes people focused “too much on the negatives” and the report showed significant progress had been made in many areas, but “that’s not to say there is not more to be done”.	Scullion said sometimes people focused “too much on the negatives” and the report showed significant progress had been made in many areas, but “that’s not to say there is not more to be done”.
He said the need for decisive action was reflected in government spending including a $192m commitment for mental health and suicide prevention and $2m on last week’s Indigenous suicide prevention report.	He said the need for decisive action was reflected in government spending including a $192m commitment for mental health and suicide prevention and $2m on last week’s Indigenous suicide prevention report.