Labor's not doing what鈥檚 needed to close the gap

August 9, 2024
Issue 
Aboriginal flag at NAIDOC march
The huge numbers of young people at recent NAIDOC week marches show there is a strong appetite for justice for First Nations people. Photo: Chloe DS

The week Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the Garma Festival that Labor was 鈥渕ore determined than ever鈥 to close the gap, three First Nations people died in custody.

The latest聽聽confirmed that not only is not enough being done, things have gotten worse for First Nations people.

Incarceration rates, suicide rates, the number of children in out-of-home care and child development are all deteriorating, it found.

Other goals, such as life expectancy, youth engagement and housing, are improving but are not on track to reach the Closing the Gap targets.

The report includes shocking, but sadly unsurprising, statistics.

First Nations people took their own lives at a rate of 30 for every 100,000 people in 2022: this is up from 27 for every 100,000 the year before and is significantly higher than suicide rates in the general population (12 for every 100,000).

Suicide was the leading cause of death for First Nations people aged 15鈥39, and those aged 35鈥44 had the highest rate of death by suicide (52 for each 100,000).

The report said racism is on the rise, with the proportion of people experiencing racial prejudice rising from 43% in 2018 to 60% in 2022.

Life expectancy is a shocking 10 years less for First Nations people compared with the general population. It, too, has been found to be failing targets.

Incarceration rates have grown from 2151 to 2266 for every 100,000 people 鈥 more than 10 times higher than the general population.

Youth incarceration rates rose slightly from 28 to 30 for every 10,000 people, and First Nations children still make up more than half of all young people in prison.

More than 5% of First Nations children are in out-of-home care, a rise from 56.8 to 57.2 for each 1000. This is an all-time high.

Only 6% of all children are First Nations, yet they make up almost half of all children in out-of-home care 鈥 further proof that the stolen generations have not ended.

The report states that targets for First Nations people鈥檚 control of land and water rights is 鈥渙n track鈥. But what does this mean when Labor governments ignore First Nations rejection of聽?

Albanese told the Garma Festival the gap can be closed and that Labor would work with First Nations communities to 鈥渇ind a new way forward鈥.

But First Nations leaders say Labor has been silent since last year鈥檚 failed Voice to Parliament referendum.

The Albanese government has refused to make critical changes that would make a real difference to the lives of First Nations people.聽 For instance, it has refused to implement the聽,聽the聽recommendations of the 1991 Royal Commission Into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the 1997聽Bringing Them Home Report.

Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman and independent 聽said on August 8聽there is a need for urgent聽聽after three deaths in custody were reported.

A 42-year-old man died in Hakea Prison, Western Australia, on August 2. In Victoria, a 57-year-old died at Port Phillip Prison on August 4. A 35-year-old also died at Fulham Correctional Centre.

Thorpe continues to push for聽聽discussions as alternatives to the Voice. She said the PM鈥檚 backing away from its commitment to set up a聽聽to lead truth-telling is another broken promise聽to First Nations people.

Labor has shown no sign of making funding available for the sort of First Nations-led programs and infrastructure needed to start to seriously tackle this national disgrace.

There is a willingness to do better. The huge numbers of young people at recent聽聽and annual聽聽show a strong appetite for change.

贬别濒辫听一品探花聽amplify these movements by聽聽or donating to our聽听迟辞诲补测.

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