‘Deeply troubling’ trends found in first Closing the Gap report since voice referendum defeat

Only five of the 19 measures monitored in the Productivity Commission’s annual report on closing the gap with Indigenous Australians are considered to be on track. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

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.