Closing the Gap

Closing the Gap
Name	Closing the Gap
Established	2008
Jurisdiction	Australia
Focus	Indigenous health and wellbeing
Parent agency	Council of Australian Governments

Closing the Gap

Closing the Gap is an Australian policy framework launched to reduce disparities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. Originating from national political accords and ministerial councils, it set measurable targets across health, education, housing and justice to align outcomes with major national commitments. The initiative has intersected with prominent institutions, leaders and reports at federal, state and Indigenous governance levels, shaping debates involving entities such as the Prime Minister’s Office, the Productivity Commission and the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Background and Origins

The framework grew out of negotiations among pan-governmental bodies and Indigenous representative organisations following high-profile inquiries and reports, including influences from the Council of Australian Governments, the Australian Human Rights Commission report on racial discrimination, and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. High-level political events and leaders such as the Prime Minister of Australia and state premiers contributed to the 2008 formal launch, which followed advocacy by notable figures and organisations including the Lowitja Institute, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, and activists whose work intersected with the Northern Territory National Emergency Response. International contexts and instruments such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and scrutiny from bodies like the United Nations Human Rights Council also framed the origins and obligations underpinning the framework.

Objectives and Targets

The framework articulated time-bound objectives with baseline benchmarks and target years aimed at narrowing gaps in life expectancy, child mortality, school attendance and employment. Targets were negotiated between Commonwealth and state administrations such as New South Wales Government, Victoria (Australia), Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory ministers, and representatives from Indigenous peak bodies including Reconciliation Australia. Specific commitments reflected priorities raised by Indigenous leaders and legal advocates who had engaged with instruments like the Native Title Act 1993 and reports by the Productivity Commission. The objective set inspired comparable target-driven approaches in other jurisdictions and prompted analysis by academic institutions including the Australian National University, University of Melbourne and University of Sydney.

Implementation and Programs

Implementation combined intergovernmental agreements, Indigenous-led service delivery and mainstream program redesign delivered by agencies such as the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, state health departments and community-controlled entities like the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory and the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress. Programs ranged from maternal and child health initiatives parallel to campaigns by organisations like Menzies School of Health Research, education programs linked to departments such as the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and employment schemes coordinated with bodies including Jobs and Skills Australia. Funding mechanisms involved partnerships with philanthropic actors and foundations such as the Lowitja Institute and collaborations with research centres at Monash University and University of Western Australia.

Monitoring, Data and Outcomes

Monitoring relied on administrative data, periodic reporting and special studies undertaken by agencies such as the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Annual and multi-year reports informed accountability processes overseen by federal cabinets and state treasuries as well as inquiries by parliamentary committees including the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs. Outcome assessments have been published by research bodies like the Grattan Institute and academics at the University of New South Wales and the University of Queensland, while Indigenous evaluation frameworks drew on expertise from organisations such as the Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association and the Lowitja Institute. International monitoring comparisons referenced analyses by the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

Criticisms and Challenges

Critiques emerged from Indigenous leaders, legal scholars and policy analysts who pointed to issues in target selection, measurement, resourcing and governance. Commentators from institutes including the Australian Council of Social Service, the Australian Law Reform Commission and think tanks such as the Institute of Public Affairs and the Australia Institute debated efficacy. Challenges highlighted included data sovereignty concerns raised by Indigenous data advocates, coordination problems across jurisdictions exemplified in disputes between the Commonwealth of Australia and state administrations, and the limits of programmatic interventions in the context of structural determinants discussed by public health researchers at the Burnet Institute and the Kirby Institute.

Policy Responses and Reforms

Reforms have included renegotiated targets, greater emphasis on co-design with Indigenous peak bodies such as the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples and institutional changes within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and state agencies. Policy responses drew on recommendations by commissions and reviews including reports to the Council of Australian Governments and inquiries by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Subsequent iterations sought to address governance, funding transparency and Indigenous leadership through accords, memoranda with community-controlled organisations and renewed commitments from premiers and the Prime Minister of Australia toward outcomes aligned with international obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Category:Indigenous Australian politics Category:Public policy in Australia