Closing the Gap 2021 Report and Agreement

In August 2021 Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the new $1bn Government Implementation Plan and Priority reforms. In that plan we are finally starting to see glimpses of a new approach that acknowledges and utilises the knowledge and expertise of Australia’s First Peoples – Australia’s first scientists and diplomats and custodians of the world’s oldest continuing culture.

For many years we have called for the Catholic Social Teaching of Subsidiarity to be employed, not only in Closing the Gap Policy, but in all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy.

Read NATSICC's full response to the 2021 Closing the Gap report and new national agreement here

Summary of NATSICC Response:

• The Government’s renewed focus on developing partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organisations in reaching the new targets is appropriate

• We welcome the Stolen Generations Redress Scheme for the ACT, NT and Jervis Bay territory in NSW, but call for QLD and WA to introduce similar Schemes as a matter of urgency

• Longer term funding arrangements would empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led Organisations to create long term plans and develop Programs with greater lifespans

• The age of criminal responsibility must be raised to 14 years of age

• Government should move away from ‘deficit’ language when describing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities

• NATSICC calls on the Government to adopt the key pillars of the Uluru Statement – Truth Telling, a Voice to Parliament and Constitutional Reform

• The education of mainstream Australia to the cultural gifts and genuine need of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is imperative to Closing the Gap