World reacts to Trump’s tariffs; Not enough ‘meaningful action’ on Closing the Gap

Rising Incarceration Rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in prison is alarmingly on the rise, highlighting a disturbing trend that has worsened over the past few years. According to the latest Closing the Gap data released by the Productivity Commission, the rate of First Nations adult prisoners has reached 2304.4 per 100,000 people, marking a concerning 30% increase since 2019. This escalation is not limited to adults; the rate of Indigenous children in youth detention has also risen to 26.1 per 10,000, showing an upward trend over the past four years. These statistics paint a stark picture of the ongoing overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system, signaling a deepening crisis that demands urgent attention and action.

Worsening Outcomes for Indigenous Children in Out-of-Home Care

The situation for Indigenous children extends beyond the justice system, as their overrepresentation in the out-of-home care system continues to worsen. While the rate of children in out-of-home care remained stable at 50.3 per 1000 children in 2023 and 2024, this number has increased from 47.3 per 1000 in 2019. This trend is a clear indication that the interventions and policies aimed at supporting Indigenous families and reducing the removal of children from their homes are failing to achieve their intended outcomes. The persistent overrepresentation of Indigenous children in care underscores the need for a more comprehensive and culturally responsive approach to addressing the root causes of family separation.

Lack of Meaningful Action by Governments

The worsening outcomes in key areas of the Closing the Gap initiative have been attributed to a lack of meaningful action by governments. Productivity Commissioner Selwyn Button highlighted that the review of the Closing the Gap data revealed insufficient progress in meeting the commitments outlined in the National Agreement. Commissioner Button emphasized the importance of governments taking their responsibilities under the agreement seriously and implementing priority reforms to address the systemic issues faced by Indigenous communities. The data shows that without concerted and meaningful action, the gaps in health, education, justice, and other critical areas will continue to widen.

Limited Progress in Meeting Closing the Gap Targets

The latest data on the Closing the Gap targets reveals a mixed picture, with only four out of 19 targets on track to being met. While some targets, such as the 15% increase in land and sea Country covered by Indigenous legal rights and interests, are showing promising progress, other key areas like life expectancy, healthy birth weights, and tertiary education completion are improving but still falling short of the desired outcomes. The lack of progress in these critical areas underscores the need for more targeted and effective strategies to address the systemic barriers that continue to disadvantage Indigenous Australians.

The Need for Fundamental Change

The persistent and worsening outcomes in key areas of the Closing the Gap initiative highlight the need for fundamental change in how governments approach Indigenous policy and service delivery. Commissioner Button stressed that the implementation of priority reforms is essential to-drive meaningful progress and ensure that the commitments under the National Agreement are fulfilled. Without a shift towards more transformative and culturally responsive policies, Indigenous Australians will continue to face significant disparities in health, education, justice, and economic opportunities.

A Call to Action for Meaningful Reforms

The data underscores the urgent need for governments to take decisive and meaningful action to address the systemic issues driving the poor outcomes for Indigenous Australians. This requires not only increased resources but also a genuine commitment to partnership with Indigenous communities and a willingness to implement the reforms necessary to achieve the vision of the Closing the Gap initiative. By prioritizing Indigenous-led solutions and ensuring that policies are grounded in the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, governments can begin to reverse the concerning trends and work towards a more equitable future.