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| Worsening Closing the Gap measures spark Indigenous calls for ‘real power shift’ | Worsening Closing the Gap measures spark Indigenous calls for ‘real power shift’ |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Latest report delivers bad news on targets including adult imprisonment rates, children in out-of-home care, suicide and childhood development | Latest report delivers bad news on targets including adult imprisonment rates, children in out-of-home care, suicide and childhood development |
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| Without changing the approach to Closing the Gap, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will continue to “pay the price”, Indigenous organisations say. | Without changing the approach to Closing the Gap, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will continue to “pay the price”, Indigenous organisations say. |
| Just four of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track to be met, according to the latest data from the Productivity Commission. | 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. | 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. | While there have been improvements in year 12 attainment, tertiary education and housing access, these are not on track to meet deadlines. |
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| “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,” the Coalition of Peaks lead convener, Pat Turner, said. | “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,” the 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. | “That requires smart investment, longer-term flexible funding and full implementation of the four priority reforms – shifting power, not just policy. |
| “Without real power shift, we’ll keep seeing the same patterns repeat and our people will continue to pay the price.” | “Without real power shift, we’ll keep seeing the same patterns repeat and our people will continue to pay the price.” |
| The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council chief executive, Paula Arnol, said the latest Closing the Gap report card was disappointing. | The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council chief executive, Paula Arnol, said the latest Closing the Gap report card was 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. | “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 data follows a recent review of the Closing the Gap agreement, commissioned by the Coalition of Peaks. |
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| 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. | 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. | 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,” he said. | “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,” he said. |
| Turner said improvements in early education enrolments, employment and land and sea rights show what’s possible when government partner with Indigenous organisations “in the right way”. | Turner said improvements in early education enrolments, employment and land and sea rights show what’s possible when government partner with Indigenous organisations “in the right way”. |
| But she said when governments fail to meet their commitments to work with community-controlled organisations, the gap widens. | But she said when governments fail to meet their commitments to work with community-controlled organisations, the gap widens. |
| “What’s important for Australians to understand is that Aboriginal community-controlled organisations are not fringe services,” Turner said. | “What’s important for Australians to understand is that Aboriginal community-controlled organisations are not fringe services,” Turner said. |
| “We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for a fair share. When we get that, we deliver.” | “We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for a fair share. When we get that, we deliver.” |
| In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org | In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org |