Only four Closing the Gap targets being met
The Productivity Commission has released the latest Annual Data Compilation Report showing how efforts to improve life outcomes for First Nations people are progressing under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
But only four of the 19 targets are on track to be met and four are worsening.
According to the Commission, adult imprisonment, suicide rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are worsening, but targets for employment and preschool programme enrolments have improved.
“I am pleased that nationally we are seeing improvements in 10 of the 15 targets with data,” Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said.
“However, it is very concerning that we are still seeing outcomes worsening for incarceration rates, children in out-of-home care and suicide.
“That’s why I’m working through Joint Council to drive greater action and effort by all governments, in partnership with First Nations people, to turn these targets around.
“It’s important that state and territory governments all back in their commitments under the National Agreement with actions that will help improve outcomes for First Nations people.”
Outcomes are improving and targets on track:
- Preschool enrolments (Target 3)
- Employment (Target 8)
- Land mass subject to legal rights and interests (Target 15A)
- Sea waters subject to legal rights and interests (Target 15B).
Outcomes are improving but targets are not on track to be met:
- Life expectancy (Target 1)
- Healthy birthweights (Target 2)
- Year 12 or equivalent qualifications (Target 5)
- Tertiary educations (Target 6)
- Youth engagement (Target 7)
- Appropriately sized housing (Target 9A)
However, outcomes continue to worsen in four areas:
- Early childhood development (Target 4)
- Adult incarceration (Target 10)
- Children in out-of-home care (Target 12)
- Suicide (Target 14).
For youth detention (Target 11) there has been no change from the baseline data however outcomes have been worsening since 2022.
The Productivity Commission’s report also shows outcomes differ significantly between states and territories, and identifies poorer outcomes in remote Australia.
New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT all report improvement for most targets.
In contrast, the Northern Territory has 15 targets with data and of these, only seven are improving.
“Our work in remote Australia is particularly focussed,” Senator McCarthy said in a statement.
“The Government has recently initiated significant programs for remote Australia to drive change – including the Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program, National Strategy for Food Security in Remote First Nations communities and the Northern Territory Remote Housing Package.”
