Peak bodies have welcomed the government's latest investment in Indigenous-led health and early childhood education announced on Thursday, while the Opposition argues many of the funded initiatives were originally established under the former Coalition government.
Delivering the government's latest Closing the Gap report a day before the 18th anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations, the Prime Minister committed to a range of measures, including $144 million to upgrade more than 100 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) in cities and regional areas.
The government also confirmed that last month's $25 billion funding agreement with states and territories includes $450 million for Indigenous health, comprising $250 million from the Commonwealth and $200 million from the states.
Early childhood focus welcomed
The commitment to deliver new early childhood education and care centres in remote Australia was welcomed by SNAICC - National Voice for our Children, the peak body for First Nations children and young people.
Speaking on Thursday, the Prime Minister told Parliament, "economic empowerment begins with education [and] early childhood," with SNAICC chief executive Catherine Liddle saying it "reinforced what we know to be true — closing the gap starts with our children".
"The story of children is at the heart of the tabling of the report today and when you think about what conditions are required to ensure that all of our children are thriving, they were mentioned in that report," Ms Liddle told reporters in Parliament.
"They talk to the impact of incredible services like Connected Beginnings and those incredible programs are supported by Aboriginal health services and education providers and family support services."
The Prime Minister said confirmation is expected by the end of the year that 95 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are enrolled in preschool. Ms Liddle described this as "fantastic," but said children must enter the system with "everything they need".
"We know that that involves housing. We know that involves jobs for their families. We know that involves things like food security," she said.
"So, it is incredible to see what we're seeing in some of the tabling today. And it is obviously creating an opportunity where we can see all children thriving."
Health measures and cost-of-living relief
The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) also welcomed the health investments, along with the expansion of the Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme, which includes $27.4 million to reduce prices on 30 essential grocery items across 225 remote stores.
"We welcome the commitment to improve access to Aboriginal employment in the health sector, reduce the cost of groceries in remote communities, and strengthen support for services that underpin healthy, strong families," AMSANT Chair Rob McPhee said.
"We know that affordable food, meaningful work and community connection are critical contributors to long-term health and wellbeing, alongside clinical care."
However, he said funding alone would not close the gap, noting the ongoing impact of broader social determinants of health — including education, housing, economic opportunity, food security and community safety.
"Ongoing attention to these are just as important so people do not have to come to a clinic or hospital in the first place," he said.
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Opposition scrutiny
Responding to the announcements, the opposition spokesperson for Indigenous Australians, Kerrynne Liddle, said the government is "continuing to invest in programs introduced by the former Coalition Government," arguing that "due to their success, investment has been increased".
"The Coalition will continue to track the delivery of these commitments and their progress against Closing the Gap outcomes," she said.
The Prime Minister said only four of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track and four are moving backwards, with five years remaining under the current agreement, while six are improving.
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In response, Senator Liddle said: "We know from Senate Estimates this week, delivery has too often been too slow and fallen short of expectations.
"With many Closing the Gap targets not on track, and four going in the wrong direction, the Albanese Government must reflect on why these targets going backwards have done so on their watch."
In her role, Senator Liddle said she would "continue to advocate for practical action, not symbolic gestures, to improve the lives of the most vulnerable and hold this Government accountable for its decisions".
"This includes encouraging private sector employment in regional, rural and remote communities," she said. "I will continue to pressure the Albanese Government to put greater effort into supporting people to find a pathway into those jobs, and not leaving them on the perpetual pathway of Indigenous employment programs."
