The number of Indigenous Australians imprisoned, taking their own life and losing children to out-of-home care have all increased in the first Closing the Gap report since the voice referendum was defeated.
Not only were key measures to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians sliding backwards, prompting concern from leaders, but parties to the national agreement for closing the gap still cannot agree on an approach to measure priority areas.
Only five of the 19 measures monitored by the Productivity Commission in its annual report are considered on track, including babies born with a healthy birthrate, land and sea rights, employment and preschool enrolments.
The newly installed minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, described some of the trends as “deeply troubling”.
There were improvements in life expectancy – with Indigenous men born between 2020-22 now expected to live for 71.9 years, and women 75.6 years. But that still leaves Indigenous Australians well behind non-Indigenous life expectancies of 81.2 years and 85.3 years respectively.
Life expectancy looks set to miss the 2031 closing target set by the government.
Showing improvement but not on track for 2031 are the number of Indigenous people aged 20-24 finishing 12 years of schooling, or the equivalent in training (68.1%); Indigenous people aged between 25 and 34 who have completed a tertiary qualification (47%); and Indigenous people living in appropriate-sized housing (81.4%).
In one of her first statements since becoming minister, Senator McCarthy acknowledged there was still much work to be done, and indicated the Coalition needed to come to the table.
“These figures are deeply troubling, but I am determined to work in partnership with First Nations Australians, the Coalition of Peaks and state and territory governments to bring about positive change,” she said.
“I will be reaching out to my colleagues across the parliament to seek a bipartisan approach to Indigenous affairs.”
Coalition of Peaks co-convenor Catherine Liddle said: “There are still far too many non-Indigenous-operated service providers being funded to deliver to our people, and they are doing so without consideration for what we really need, without the knowledge of how interconnected so many aspects of our lives and culture are, and without the understanding of how our communities and people think and feel.”
Various key measures were going backwards.
The number of adults in prison last year increased, from 2,151 Indigenous adults per 100,000 in 2022 to 2,265.
Suicide statistics also fared worse, with 30 people per 100,000 taking their own life in 2022, up from 27 in 2021.
The involvement of child protection was also reported as “worsening” with 57 per 1,000 children in out-of-home care in 2023.
For the first time, the commission included analysis of historical trends and current context to major socio-economic outcome areas, to help understand the challenges ahead.
Long and healthy lives
Improving, but not on track
71.9 years was the life expectancy for males born in 2020-22, while for females it was 75.6
Early childhood education
On track
101.8% of children were enrolled in preschool in 2023
Criminal justice
Worsening
2,265.8 per 100,000 adults in prison in 2023
Youth justice
No change
29,8 per 10,000 young people were in detention 2022 - 23
Child protection
Worsening
57.2 per 1,000 children were in out-of-home care in 2023
Social and emotional wellbeing
Worsening
29.9 per 100,000 people took their own life in 2022
Land
On track
4,213,978km2 were subject to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's rights or interests in 2023
Waters
On track
113,461km2 were subjected to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's rights or interests in 2023
Children thriving
Worsening
34.3% of children commencing school were developmentally on track in 2021
Student learning potential
Improvement, but not on track
68.1% of people ages 20-24 years had attained year 12 of equivalent in 2021
Further education pathways
Improvement, but not on track
47% of people ages 25-34 years had completed a tertiary qualification in 2021
Youth engagement
Improvement, but not on track
58% of people aged 15-24 years were fully engaged in employment, education or training in 2021
Economic participation
On track
55.7% of people aged 25-64 years were employed in 2021
Housing
Improvement, but not on track
81.4% of people were living in appropriately sized housing in 2021
The commissioner, Natalie Siegel-Brown, said the priority reforms identified in the national agreement “are the key to achieving the targets” and should quickly be addressed.
“Holding governments accountable for change includes having the data to measure change, and there is still much we do not know,” she said.
“For example, we still do not have a reliable source of data to assess whether Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have access to clean drinking water, sewerage treatment and electricity.
“Giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the resources and authority to generate and control their own data in line with Indigenous sovereignty principles will be a vital part of addressing these gaps.”
Last year, then-Indigenous affairs minister Linda Burney said the proposed voice to parliament would help address the lack of progress in key life outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
Three months later the referendum was comprehensively defeated. Since then, the Labor government has repeatedly dodged questions on whether it would progress with the Makarrata commission for agreement-making with Indigenous Australians.
In February, the Productivity Commission warned that without fundamental changes, the Closing the Gap agreement would fail.
Liddle said the targets which were being met was where community control was in place.
“The data is there, the stories are there, it’s clear that when we control our services we get better outcomes for our people,” she said.
“The saying ‘nothing about us without us’ absolutely applies to getting the best results for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, from birth right through to our elders and how they are cared for.”
Liddle urged wider reviews of how money was spent when it came to Indigenous issues.
She said four years after the priority reforms were identified to ensure better outcomes for Indigenous Australians, the coalition was still having to push for action, including having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives at the table with governments to share in decision making.
Liddle said Indigenous community-controlled organisations were still not being adequately funded to deliver services.
Not enough had been done to transform government institutions and mainstream services, she said, “so they are safe for our people, free from racism and truly meeting our needs”.
