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Western Australia may miss Closing the Gap Indigenous health deadline Western Australia may miss Closing the Gap Indigenous health deadline
(4 months later)
The Closing the Gap Indigenous health agreement may not be re-signed by the deadline with Western Australia holding out, citing its budget as the major reason.The Closing the Gap Indigenous health agreement may not be re-signed by the deadline with Western Australia holding out, citing its budget as the major reason.
The national partnership agreement (NPA) on Indigenous health outcomes was first signed by all states, territories and the federal government in 2008, to invest $1.57bn over four years with a focus on treating chronic disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and getting more Indigenous people working in the health sector.The national partnership agreement (NPA) on Indigenous health outcomes was first signed by all states, territories and the federal government in 2008, to invest $1.57bn over four years with a focus on treating chronic disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and getting more Indigenous people working in the health sector.
The agreement expires on 30 June but negotiations have hit a stumbling block, with Western Australia wanting to get its August budget in order before signing on.The agreement expires on 30 June but negotiations have hit a stumbling block, with Western Australia wanting to get its August budget in order before signing on.
It is understood all the other states and territories have agreed in principle to re-sign the agreement but are yet to publicly confirm it.It is understood all the other states and territories have agreed in principle to re-sign the agreement but are yet to publicly confirm it.
A spokeswoman for the Western Australia premier, Colin Barnett, said the state government had funded the program in the state for an extra three months beyond June in anticipation of an agreement not being reached by the end of this month.A spokeswoman for the Western Australia premier, Colin Barnett, said the state government had funded the program in the state for an extra three months beyond June in anticipation of an agreement not being reached by the end of this month.
“This will allow continuity of the program until the outcome of the budget process is known in August,” she said.“This will allow continuity of the program until the outcome of the budget process is known in August,” she said.
She said the current agreement had provided WA Health with an opportunity to change the way it implemented and developed health services for Aboriginal people in the state.She said the current agreement had provided WA Health with an opportunity to change the way it implemented and developed health services for Aboriginal people in the state.
The WA government refused to commit to a date for its decision but said it welcomed the additional commonwealth funding of $777m over the next three years announced in May’s budget.The WA government refused to commit to a date for its decision but said it welcomed the additional commonwealth funding of $777m over the next three years announced in May’s budget.
The federal minister for Indigenous health, Warren Snowdon, last month wrote to the health ministers of each state and territory asking for a new agreement to be in place for 1 July.The federal minister for Indigenous health, Warren Snowdon, last month wrote to the health ministers of each state and territory asking for a new agreement to be in place for 1 July.
He said a draft review was in its final stages and noted it was too early to say the extent to which the original NPA had achieved any of its intended health outcomes.He said a draft review was in its final stages and noted it was too early to say the extent to which the original NPA had achieved any of its intended health outcomes.
“However, it finds that under the NPA, all Australian governments have implemented, or are currently implementing, an extensive range of activities to improve Indigenous health outcomes and contribute to closing the gap in life expectancy,” he wrote.“However, it finds that under the NPA, all Australian governments have implemented, or are currently implementing, an extensive range of activities to improve Indigenous health outcomes and contribute to closing the gap in life expectancy,” he wrote.
“The review also finds that a new agreement could be improved through streamlined reporting and better co-ordination and planning of the activities included in the agreement. ““The review also finds that a new agreement could be improved through streamlined reporting and better co-ordination and planning of the activities included in the agreement. “
Spokespeople for the New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory governments said they were committed to Indigenous health but were still thrashing out the details of the agreement with the commonwealth.Spokespeople for the New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory governments said they were committed to Indigenous health but were still thrashing out the details of the agreement with the commonwealth.
A spokesman for Queensland premier, Campbell Newman, also said he was committed to closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Queenslanders but was conscious of the areas that needed attention.A spokesman for Queensland premier, Campbell Newman, also said he was committed to closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Queenslanders but was conscious of the areas that needed attention.
“We are committed to ensuring the best possible use of funds to achieve real outcomes for Indigenous communities, including a focus on education and employment,” he said.“We are committed to ensuring the best possible use of funds to achieve real outcomes for Indigenous communities, including a focus on education and employment,” he said.
The Tasmanian, South Australian and Victorian governments were approached for comment but did not return calls.The Tasmanian, South Australian and Victorian governments were approached for comment but did not return calls.
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