Minister for Indigenous Australians
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.
Data is available on progress in 15 of the 19 targets and shows that nationally 10 of those are improving.
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.
These results highlight the need for all governments and Coalition of Peaks partners to continue to work together to achieve outcomes under the National Agreement.
The Albanese Government is delivering practical programs to address areas of need and improve outcomes for First Nations people.
Our work in remote Australia is particularly focussed. 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.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:
"I welcome the Productivity Commission's work to support our understanding of progress towards Closing the Gap. These reports are an important transparency mechanism and drive accountability for all partners to the National Agreement for Closing the Gap.
"I am pleased that nationally we are seeing improvements in 10 of the 15 targets with data.
"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."
