The agenda after the Voice is clear – governments must deliver Closing the Gap
The Coalition of Peaks says the discussions at Garma demonstrate that the national conversation must now return to the work that governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have already committed to together – implementing the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, Donnella Mills, said Australia does not need to search for a new agenda.
“We already have an agenda agreed by more than 80 community-controlled peak organisations and all Australian Governments to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It is the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and achieving the target on preschools enrolment in partnership with the community-controlled sector shows that it can work.”
“The Agreement provides a roadmap for improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through genuine partnership, shared decision-making and strengthening our community-controlled organisations, and it was agreed by Coalition and Labor Governments alike.”
“The Priority Reforms committed to in the Agreement were designed to change the way governments work with us because the old approaches have not delivered.”
“The Productivity Commission says in its latest report that where governments have started sharing power with communities, progress has followed.”
Ms Mills said the Coalition of Peaks is calling for renewed Commonwealth leadership to ensure the Agreement is implemented as intended across all jurisdictions. “That is what is missing”.
“The Commonwealth has a unique responsibility to lead nationally. That means championing the Priority Reforms, holding all governments to account for their commitments and ensuring implementation remains focused on structural change.”
“Strong Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, genuine partnerships and shared decision-making are not optional extras. They are the foundation of the Agreement and the mechanism through which lasting change will be achieved.”
Ms Mills said recent commentary at Garma about the pace of progress on Closing the Gap raises issues that deserve serious attention.
“When respected Aboriginal leaders express concern about the trajectory of Closing the Gap, those concerns should not be dismissed. They should be examined carefully.”
“We know too many targets are not improving, and in some cases outcomes are going backwards. While responsibility for many service systems rests with states and territories, national leadership is essential if governments are to respond collectively and urgently.”
“The question is not what comes after the Voice. The question is whether governments are prepared to deliver the commitments they have already made under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.”
“The Prime Minister should use National Cabinet to bring First Ministers together to address the targets that are deteriorating and agree a collective plan to get Closing the Gap back on track.”
“The Commonwealth should also review its intergovernmental funding agreements with states and territories to ensure they are driving the outcomes governments have committed to achieve under Closing the Gap. Intergovernmental agreements and funding should reinforce the Priority Reforms, strengthen Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and provide clear accountability for improving outcomes.”
Ms Mills said the Coalition of Peaks remained committed to working constructively with governments to accelerate implementation of the National Agreement.
“The Coalition of Peaks stands ready to work with the Prime Minister, First Ministers and all governments to drive Closing the Gap. We know the reform agenda. We have agreed a roadmap. The task now is to lead its implementation with the urgency and ambition Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people deserve.”
Media contact:
Meg Bacalhau (Essential Media), 0452 567 844, meg.bacalhau@essentialmedia.com.au