Palaszczuk Government must do more to close the gap

• LNP Opposition welcomes “Closing the Gap” report handed down by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
• “Closing the Gap” report reveals only one out of seven key target areas are on track
• Queensland well behind the front of the pack – Minister Mark Furner needs to take control of his new portfolio

Shadow Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Steve Minnikin today welcomed the “Closing the Gap” report handed down by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull but said more needed to be done by Minister Mark Furner and the Palaszczuk Government to ensure Queenslanders weren’t left behind.

The report outlined a number of key targets by the Commonwealth Government to build a promising future for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders through recognition and reconciliation.

Mr Minnikin said that while the report showed progress had been made across the seven key areas, only one (halving the gap in year 12 attainment by 2020) was on track.

“I am pleased to see in Australia we are making headway with reducing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, however there is still more that needs to be done to improve the outcomes of the remaining six targets,” Mr Minnikin said.

“Queensland is far from the front of the pack and needs to do better - Mark Furner must immediately step up and take control of his new portfolio.

“The key focus of the initiative is to improve life expectancy, education and employment for Australia’s Indigenous communities.

“Unfortunately, we do not see these communities thriving in the same way as non-Indigenous Australians, and this is simply not acceptable.”

Fast facts:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people make up three per cent of Australia’s population
• Almost 80 per cent of Indigenous Australians live in regional and metropolitan areas.
• While 14 per cent of Indigenous Australians live in very remote areas, they make up 45 per cent of those in living these areas.

Key targets of the report are to:

• Halve the gap in child mortality by 2018 (not on track)
• Close the gap in life expectancy by 2031 (not on track)
• 95 per cent of all Indigenous four-year-olds to be enrolled in early childhood education by 2025 (not on track)
• Close the gap in school attendance by the end of 2018 (not on track)
• Halve the gap in reading and numeracy for Indigenous students by 2018 (not on track)
• Halve the gap in Year 12 attainment by 2020 (on track)
• Halve the gap in employment by 2018 (not on track)