Each year in February, the Prime Minister delivers a statement in Parliament accounting to the nation for the status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this country and outlines what more is needed to “close the gap”. It is a time when our country looks in the mirror and confronts our different status – a status that shows wide gaps in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.

Today the Joint Council on Closing the Gap convened for the first time since the historic National Agreement on Closing the Gap came into effect on 27 July 2020.

A joint funding pool is being established by Australian governments to strengthen the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector to deliver vital services to communities and help deliver on the commitments of Priority Reform Two under the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The National Cabinet, the Australian Local Government Association and the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak organisations have agreed the historic National Agreement on Closing the Gap, taking the country in a new direction to substantially improve life outcomes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Joint Council met this afternoon by teleconference to discuss the final details of the draft National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The Joint Council acknowledged the work between Australian governments, the Australian Local Government Association and the Coalition of Peaks to negotiate the historic agreement.

The Coalition of Peaks today released a ground-breaking report on the 2019 community engagements with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about their views on what should be included in the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The report is called, ‘A report on engagements with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to inform a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Today the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peaks have launched their website and social media. Aimed at engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The release of the 2020 Closing the Gap report today confirms the need for a fundamentally new approach, according to the Coalition of Peaks. The report reveals that progress against the majority of Closing the Gap targets is still not on track.

A core tenant of Australia’s modern national identity is belief in a fair go. Yet the promise of a fair go is not a reality for everyone in this country. The difference in the life outcomes of First Nations people compared to the rest of Australia is stark.

The Coalition of Peaks shared what was heard during a comprehensive program of community engagements which they led, including overwhelming support received for its three proposed Priority Reforms and the creation of a fourth.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around Australia have had their say on a new national agreement on Closing the Gap, which is currently in development through a partnership between the Coalition of Peaks and the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled Coalition of Peaks can reveal that more than 1500 people and organisations have responded to its online survey on Closing the Gap. Today is the final opportunity to engage with the survey. The deadline for responses has already been extended once given the high level of engagement and to allow for more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations to respond.

This Monday, Thursday Island will host the first of six face-to-face engagement meetings in Queensland on the development of a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Peak Organisations (Coalition of Peaks) will today hold a face-to-face meeting on Closing the Gap with national stakeholders.

The Coalition of Peaks will host a meeting in Sydney today on the development of a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The meeting is an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to tell the Coalition of Peaks and governments what changes are needed to improve their lives.

The Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Peak Organisations (Coalition of Peaks) has responded to significant interest in the survey on Closing the Gap and is extending the deadline to Friday 8 November 2019.

Ceduna will today host the first of four engagement meetings in South Australia on the development of a new national agreement on Closing the Gap. All four meetings will be led by the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peaks (Coalition of Peaks), a body comprised of around forty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled peak organisations that have come together to have their collective voice heard on issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The first of two face-to-face meetings with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Canberra will be held today to discuss the development of a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The meetings provide an opportunity for the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peaks and Australian Capital Territory Government to hear the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about what changes are needed to improve their lives.

Broome will today host the first of six face-to-face meetings in Western Australia on the development of a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The meetings provide an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to tell the Coalition of Peaks and governments what changes are needed to improve their lives.

Launceston will today host a face-to-face meeting on the development of a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The meeting is an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to tell the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled peak organisations (Coalition of Peaks) and the Tasmanian government what changes are needed to improve their lives.