Joint council strengthens their resolve to implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap at meeting on the traditional lands of the Kulin nation
The Joint Council on Closing the Gap met for the first time since the referendum held on 14 October 2023 on the principle of recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution through a Voice.
Joint Council is responsible for overseeing implementation of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (National Agreement) and reporting annually to First Ministers. It made up of representatives of the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs ministers from all jurisdictions and a representative from the Australian Local Government Association.
Joint Council reflected on the importance of the full implementation of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in the wake of the referendum.
“We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people overwhelmingly voted for a Voice. We voted for change and to improve our life outcomes,” said Acting Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, Mr Scott Wilson.
“The Coalition of Peaks, through their work with government and as individual organisations, remain resolute in our commitment and dedication to bring about the change our communities voted for.”
The National Agreement stems from the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of services that affect us, better life outcomes are achieved.
Aboriginal people and their cultures have prevailed and endured despite too many experiencing entrenched disadvantage, political exclusion, intergenerational trauma and ongoing institutional racism. The objective of the National Agreement is to overcome the entrenched inequality faced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so that their life outcomes are equal to all Australians whilst maintaining our strong culture and unique identities.
The foundation of the National Agreement is the four Priority Reforms, designed to change the way governments work with our people, organisations and communities. They are a commitment from governments to:
1. Share decisions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives right across the country on matters that have a significant impact on us.
2. Support and strengthen our community-controlled organisations to deliver improved and expanded services and supports for our people.
3. Ensure mainstream organisations and institutions funded by governments are safer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, more responsive to our needs and contribute much more to Closing the Gap
4. Share data with our communities at the regional level to help inform decision making on community priorities.
“Priority Reform One of the National Agreement commits all governments to establish partnerships and structures with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives to share in decision making with governments on matters that have a significant impact on us, ensuring our voices are heard.
Full implementation of the National Agreement will also see our communities and organisations get the funding they need to deliver the best services to our people.”
Joint Council heard updates on the progress of Policy Partnerships in Early Childhood Care and Development, Housing and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages and the need to accelerate the work together to deliver tangible changes on the ground in these areas.
Members also discussed progress on the commitment by all government under Priority Reform Three to establish or identify an Independent Mechanism to monitor government funded mainstream agencies, organisations and institutions.
“Establishing an Independent Mechanism to monitor how mainstream agencies, organisations and institutions are supporting our people will help make sure governments, schools, universities, and the health care and justice system are working for our people, that they are safe for our kids and families, and are contributing fully to Closing the Gap,” said Mr Wilson.
“It is vital that we get some better accountability arrangements and structures in place to monitor governments’ implementation of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and beyond, and we were pleased that progress is being made, albeit slower than we would have hoped.”
In the meeting, the Coalition of Peaks raised the importance of the mainstream funding intergovernmental agreements that relate to closing the gap and making sure they make a bigger contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“We need to get these big funding agreements between the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments working for our people and helping to close the gap.
There is a lot of funding in these agreements that our people so desperately need access to. This includes the Housing and Homeless and Schools Reform Agreements that are currently being renegotiated between governments,” Mr Wilson noted.
“We also discussed the continued importance of government efforts to ensure funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is delivered primarily through Aboriginal community controlled and Aboriginal led organisations.”
Joint Council noted the commitment by National Cabinet on 3 February 2023 to the implementation of the National Agreement and to re-sign the National Agreement as a demonstration of continued public support.
“I know that all members of the Joint Council are committed to Closing the Gap. The Coalition of Peaks are hopeful that we can turn this commitment into tangible changes for all our communities across the country.
The National Agreement is about structural change to the way government works with our people, and if fully implemented by governments, provides a way forward for our people, beyond the referendum, to see our voices be heard and our communities properly supported,” concluded Mr Wilson.
Read the meeting communique at Joint Council on Closing the Gap | Closing the Gap. The Joint Council will meet again in the new year.