Federal Opposition spokesperson on Indigenous policy, Senator Kerrynne Liddle, has condemned the government for "failing Indigenous Australians" in response to the latest Closing the Gap report.
Senator Liddle said Closing the Gap Annual Data Compilation Report, released Wednesday night, "paints a stark picture of no meaningful positive change to the lives of Indigenous Australians".
"The gap is widening, not closing. Of the 19 targets just four are on track — one less than last year. The four targets going in the wrong direction in 2024 – incarceration, suicide, children in out-of home care and children commencing school developmentally on track – are still going backwards today," she said.
"Across the Report, data is too often missing. For four targets, including family safety, the numbers are unreliable and outdated. Only 10 of the targets had updated figures.
"Where data exists, it must inform policy. Evidence, not ideology, must dictate the government's efforts to close the gap. Unfortunately, this has too often not been the case in the first three years of Labor that included the failed Voice Referendum, lapsing of alcohol restrictions in the Northern Territory, and the removal of the Cashless Debit Card."
The South Australian senator said the federal government "has no credible strategy and no obvious pathway to close the gap".
"To improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, we need greater emphasis on transparency, accountability and outcomes," she said.
"The Coalition will continue to work directly with Indigenous Australians, developing policies and supporting programs that provide tangible, practical and lasting benefit to their lives."
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy noted some improvements reported by the Productivity Commission's review but also expressed concern at worsening outcomes in other areas.
"I am pleased that nationally we are seeing improvements in 10 of the 15 targets with data," Senator McCarthy said.
"However, it is very concerning that we are still seeing outcomes worsening for incarceration rates, children in out-of-home care and suicide.
"That's why I'm working through Joint Council to drive greater action and effort by all governments, in partnership with First Nations people, to turn these targets around."
Despite improvements in a number of measures; overall only four of 19 targets are on track to be met in the timelines set by the National Agreement.
