Damning report on the Closing the Gap
7 February 2024 - The Productivity Commission’s Report on Closing the Gap released today outlines a damning assessment of governments in their failure to implement the National Agreement on the Closing the Gap initiative.
NSW Greens MP and spokesperson for First Nations Justice said: “The report today is a damning appraisal of the severe failure of our Government to implement the initiatives set out in the Closing the Gap Initiative,”
“The report is clear, governments are failing First Nations people in this country, they are failing First Nations people in this state, and they are failing First Nations’ communities. This must urgently change. The Report is very clear that the only way we will Close the Gap is through the transfer of power to First Nations people over matters that affect them and their communities. We will not Close the Gap through policy touches alone, it is about the transfer of power.”
“This is a moment for the Minns Labor Government to step up and come good on its commitment to genuinely back the self-determination of First Nations people in this state and it is high time the Minns Government take serious action on its election promise to begin a Treaty process, ensuring every step is informed by the principles of Free, Prior, Informed and Ongoing Consent,”
“NSW remains the only state yet to commence a Treaty process with First Peoples, despite having one of the highest populations of First Nations People in the country. First Nations children are still significantly overrepresented in the out of home care system here in NSW but the Government is yet to implement all of the Family is Culture Report that was tabled in 2019.”
“The time for piecemeal and ineffective policy is over. It is time for the Minns Government to close the gap between its promises and its actions.” Ms Higginson said.