The ACT Government has committed to ambitious targets and real action in its first Implementation Plan under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Rachel Stephen-Smith said the first Implementation Plan reflects the ACT Government's commitment to working in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to deliver positive life outcomes for First Nations peoples living in the ACT.
"We are in a strong position to deliver on the priorities identified in the National Agreement due to our partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body and the strength of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2019-2028," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
"The first Implementation Plan is closely aligned with work that is already being progressed under the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement and in response to key reports such as the Our Booris, Our Way review into over-representation in the child and youth protection system.
"It includes a number of targets that are more ambitious than the national target – including reducing the rate of incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to achieve parity with the non-Indigenous incarceration rate by 2031.
"We have made this commitment because we understand that the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in detention is a crisis. We look forward to meeting with local community leaders next week to discuss practical action we can take to address this challenge.
"The Implementation Plan also provides practical examples of the work underway against the Priority Reforms. For example, the ACT Government has reiterated its commitment to reducing experiences of racism and discrimination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples working in the ACT Public Service or engaging with our services.
"An ACT Public Service Framework for Addressing Systemic Racism is being developed and will identify and address systemic racism in processes and systems to ensure cultural safety.
"The Government is also committed to a $20 million Healing and Reconciliation Fund to support our Closing the Gap commitments and deliver on community priorities. This includes strengthening the community-controlled sector in priority areas such as child and family services, justice, housing and disability."
The ACT Government will work with the new Elected Body to update and augment the Implementation Plan in 2022, in line with Phase 2 of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement Action Plans.
The ACT's National Agreement Implementation Plan can be found here: www.communityservices.act.gov.au/atsia/closing-the-gap
