The most recent Productivity Commission Closing the Gap report suggests most measures are not on track.
Only five of 19 Closing the Gap metrics monitored by the Productivity Commission are “on track”, according to the Commission’s annual report.
The latest Annual Data Compilation Report – which tracks targets set in the National Agreement – shows that while life expectancy for Indigenous Australians is improving, it may not meet the 2031 target to close the gap with the non-Indigenous population.
An increase in young people in detention has resulted in no improvement in the over-representation of young Aboriginal and Torres Stair Islander people in the justice system.
The rate of suicide among Indigenous Australia has increased, with recent data naming suicide as the leading cause of death for 15 to 39-year-olds in 2022.
“These figures are deeply troubling,” said new Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Malarndirri McCarthy in a statement.
She said she would be seeking a bipartisan solution moving forward.
The National Health Leadership Forum called on governments and their bureaucracy to “change the way they do business”, in response to the report.
“The vision and outcomes sought within health and the other social determinants under the proposed National Agreement to Closing the Gap is possible,” said NHLF chair Karl Briscoe.
“The continuation of a ‘do as I say’ approach, and not accepting that current business practices by government and their public services needs to change is hurting us.
“The Productivity Commission’s report validates strengths-based approaches and by accepting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations as part of the process we can finally start to close the gap in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“The Productivity Commission Report and the recent data demonstrates the public sectors’ inability to think and act differently.
“It is time for all governments to step back and let Aboriginal peoples to decide how to solve the problems and to deliver the solutions and for governments to support us in this work.”
Productivity Commissioner Selwyn Button emphasised the importance of shaping services and systems with cultural safety in mind.
“We know that having ready access to culturally safe and responsive services and systems can make all the difference to socio-economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” he said.
Commissioner Natalie Siegel-Brown said that equity of outcome was within reach but would require governments to enact the four Priority Reforms focusing on shared decision-making, the community-controlled sector, transforming government and shared data access.
“In our recent three-yearly review, we saw ‘pockets of good practice’ where outcomes were not only achieved but exceeded,” she said.
“The consistent theme to improved outcomes was governments enacting the Priority Reforms: a strengthened Aboriginal Community Controlled sector, shared decision making, shared data and the government changing its operation.
“The aspirations of the Agreement are not only achievable, but equity of outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is within reach if governments breathe life into the Priority Reforms.”
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Commissioner Siegel-Brown added that all parties must agree on metrics for the four Priority Reforms – which would be key to reaching the targets of the National Agreement.
Commissioner Button seconded the importance of data collection.
“Holding governments accountable for change includes having the data to measure change – and there is still much we do not know,” he said.
“For example, we still do not have a reliable source of data to assess whether Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have access to clean drinking water, sewerage treatment and electricity.
“Giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the resources and authority to generate and control their own data in line with Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles will be a vital part of addressing these gaps.”
The measures set to meet targets included healthy birthweights, sea country subject to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s rights, preschool enrolment and overall employment.
Commissioner Siegel-Brown said the future was hopeful, provided governments act on the Commission’s recent recommendations.
“The latest data underscores the need for government action and we welcome governments’ commitments to make the changes necessary to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” she said.
“If the recommendations of our review are acted on quickly, the targets should look very different in future reports.”
All Australian governments have accepted the four key recommendations in the review and agreed to all but one of the recommended actions.
