A new agreement has been entered by the Federal, State and Territory Governments and the National Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations to change the way Governments and Indigenous Australians work together on ‘Closing the Gap’.
Announced by Prime Minister, Scott Morrison the new Closing the Gap Partnership Agreement is aimed at ensuring decision-makers work closer than ever to deliver real change for Indigenous Australians.
Mr Morrison said the agreement would focus all efforts to deliver better health, education and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
“It recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples must play an integral part in making the decisions that affect their lives,” Mr Morrison said.
“This agreement will put Indigenous peoples at the heart of the development and implementation of the next phase of closing the gap, embedding shared decision-making and accountability at the centre of the way we do business.”
He said that in order to effect real change Governments must work collaboratively and in genuine, formal partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples because they were the essential agents of change.
“The agreement was developed collaboratively with the Coalition of Peaks, the largest group of Indigenous community-controlled organisations, and committed to by all levels of government,” Mr Morrison said.
“The partnership will include a Joint Council on Closing the Gap, which for the first time will include Ministers nominated by jurisdictions, together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives chosen by the Coalition of Peaks.”
He said the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion would co-chair the first meeting of the Council alongside the Chief Executive of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Pat Turner.
