'Exercising its self-determination' - NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peaks responds as NSWALC withdraws from Closing the Gap framework

Jarred Cross Published September 8, 2026 at 11.00am (AWST)

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NSW CAPO raised some of its own concerns, acknowledging NSWALC's decision to withdraw from Closing the Gap framework participation and governance arrangements with Government. Image: Bianca De Marchi/AAP

The NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations says Closing the Gap must be about more than lip service, as one of its founding members announced its decision to withdraw from framework participation and governance arrangements.

NSWALC, the state's land council peak, announced its decision to withdraw from October 31 in a message to its network on Friday.

The body cited "ongoing failures by the NSW Government to deliver genuine partnership, shared decision-making and accountability" and "systemic concerns" about the NSW Government's delivery of Closing the Gap priority reforms".

With the decision, NSWALC said it does not mean they're stepping away from Aboriginal advocacy, collective action or engaging with the government.

NSWALC is a founding member of the state's Coalition of Aboriginal Peaks (CAPO).

Other CAPO organisations include the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT, Link-Up NSW, Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC), BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation, Aboriginal Community Housing Industry Association, First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN), Aboriginal Culture, Heritage & Arts Association (ACHAA), and the NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation (AbSec).

"NSWALC is exercising its self-determination in withdrawing from the Closing the Gap framework. NSWALC's decision reflects its concerns about the NSW Government's failure to deliver the genuine partnership and structural reform and formalises the withdrawal initially raised some months ago," NSW CAPO co-chair Sharif Deen said on Monday.

Mr Deen said NSWALC's decision does not affect NSW CAPO members' commitment to Closing the Gap aspirations and engagement with Government, and called on the state Government to use the withdrawal announcement as a moment "to rebuild trust and reset and transform its approach...based on genuine partnership and shared decision-making, transparency and shared accountability".

The land council peak body first flagged it was considering "future participation in shared decision-making forums with the NSW Government, including Closing the Gap" in June, amid ongoing critique of proposed changes to the state's Crown Lands legislation.

*Proposed changes to Crown Lands legislation earlier this year led to ongoing pushback from local land councils and NSWALC. Image: NSWALC*

NSW CAPO said while some progress has been made on Closing the Gap in the state, the coalition themselves has raised their concerns around Government upholding Closing the Gap Priority Reform principles, including those pointed to by NSWALC in their withdrawal announcement.

Priorities one to three — Formal partnerships and shared decision-making, Building the community-controlled sector, and Transforming Government organisations — and concerns abouts the state Government's delivery of them, were raised in NSWALC's announcement.

On Monday, a spokesperson for NSW Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said: "Closing the Gap is a priority for the NSW Government, and we are committed to working in partnership with all Aboriginal People to realise their aspirations and improve outcomes", and that the state government "understands that working in partnership is difficult and requires commitment from all parties to work together towards common goals".

Announcing their withdrawal, NSWALC also identified claims of clear "failure to deliver reform", pointing to the backlog of unresolved land claims, outstanding and stalled reforms and more.

NSW CAPO said Closing the Gap "must be more than lip service about targets".

"Closing the Gap is a commitment to change how governments make decisions, work with Aboriginal organisations and be accountable for their commitments. NSW Government needs to match its commitment with action, and the action needs to be across the entirety of government agencies," the organisation said in a statement.

"Aboriginal organisations and communities must be genuine partners in decisions that affect Aboriginal people. Consultation after decisions have effectively been made is notification, not shared decision-making."

NSW CAPO also wants to see progress on an Independent Government Accountability Mechanism to monitor implementation of Closing the Gap.

Mr Deen said Closing the Gap will only be realised when Aboriginal people see tangible outcomes in their communities, and Government working with them in a different way.

"NSW CAPO organisations will continue to work together as a united Aboriginal voice advocating for the rights, interests and aspirations of Aboriginal people across NSW," he said.