New data shows “significant deserts” and service gaps are contributing to worsening rates of incarceration and childhood development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Just four of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track to be met, according to the latest data from the Productivity Commission.
But key targets, including adult imprisonment rates, children in out-of-home care, suicide and childhood development, are continuing to worsen.
The report indicates that the deaths of First Nations individuals in police or prison custody have now surpassed 600 since a pivotal royal commission provided recommendations back in 1991.
Productivity commissioner Selwyn Button said the review shows the outcomes of the agreement are falling well short of what governments have committed to.
The review found Indigenous community-controlled organisations are key to progress, and governments must listen to First Nations people and share decision-making power to create positive change.
“The outcomes outlined in the Agreement primarily highlight the minimal advancement by governments in collaboration on the Priority Reforms: involving communities in decision making and data sharing; empowering the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector, and altering the way governments function,” he stated.
Catherine Liddle, the CEO of peak Aboriginal advocacy body SNAICC, told Radio National the four improving targets are ones “the government truly committed to”.
These targets are preschool program enrolments, employment, and land and sea native title and legal rights.
She says the government needs to “lean in and try harder” to address “significant deserts and gaps” in social services.
In particular, early childhood support needs to see improvement, she said, as preschool enrolments have a limited effect if children aren’t prepared for school.
Only 33.9 per cent of children commencing school were developmentally on track, a decrease from previous years.
The report also found that more than one-third of kids in youth detention last year first entered the system when they were 10–13 years old.
With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
