The National Indigenous Health Leadership Alliance has reaffirmed its commitment to work alongside government to "to transform Australia's healthcare system" following Saturday's federal election outcome.
Federal Labor was re-elected by majority with voters overwhelmingly rejecting Peter Dutton and the Liberal party's politics at the ballot box.
The Alliance (NIHLA) congratulated Labor on the result, saying it was eager to continue working for structural change in Australia's healthcare system "so that it is culturally safe, responsive, and delivers real outcomes — not just promises — for our communities".
On Monday the NIHLA urged all elected leaders to uphold and strengthen bipartisan support for the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, particularly its Priority Reform Areas which it says remain critical to genuine, lasting change.
"As affirmed by the Productivity Commission and the Close the Gap Campaign, governments must stop treating the National Agreement on Closing the Gap Priority Reforms as aspirational statements. These are commitments to change how governments work, not just what governments fund," NIHLA said.
NIHLA said the reforms must not remain words on paper, saying "they must be actively and consistently implemented across all government portfolios and departments".
In February, this year's Closing the Gap Annual Report and Implementation Plan was cautiously welcomed by Indigenous organisations, after Labor announced scholarships for First Nations psychology students, new laundries in remote communities, and place-based business coaching and mentoring programs for First Nations businesswomen and entrepreneurs.
"Healthy country means healthy people…it's about our identity. It's in our blood and it's who we are," Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said at the time.
Highlighted in its recent 2025 Senate Inquiry submission, NIHLA said self-determination, cultural safety, and Indigenous-led solutions must guide all policy development, funding, and service delivery was essential, and "Nothing About Us Without Us" must be the foundation of all reform efforts.
"It is time for public sector institutions to move beyond consultation to shared decision-making and accountability," NIHLA said.
NIHLA chair Karl Briscoe said self-determination has had a proven impact on progress of the Priority Reform Areas.
"Where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have driven the implementation of the Priority Reform Areas in our communities, we have seen real progress," Mr Briscoe said.
"This demonstrates the power of our leadership when governments listen, trust, and act in good faith".
The Alliance called on the incoming parliament to ensure bipartisan political support continues for Closing the Gap and the full implementation of its Priority Reforms and direct public sector agencies to operationalise their commitments, including partnering with ACCOs and Indigenous-led organisations to co-design solutions.
It also called for the prioritisation of data sovereignty, strengths-based measurement, and healing-informed responses to address systemic inequities and intergenerational trauma, and implement recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report and embed them into Closing the Gap frameworks as unfinished national business.
"The path forward requires courage, trust, and partnership. NIHLA is ready to work with all parties in building a stronger, fairer, and culturally safer health system — for all," NIHLA said.
