Closing the Gap targets trending backwards, with just four on track

A damning new report has laid bare just how far Australia is lagging on its target of trying to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens.

The gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is failing to close, with the country tracking backwards in four key areas, a scathing new report has revealed.

The Productivity Commission's third annual snapshot of progress against Closing the Gap targets reveal just four out of 17 targets are on track, and while progress has been made on seven targets it will not close the gap within the targeted time frame.

The report found significant improvements in the targets of preschool enrolment, youth detention, employment, and land subject to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s legal rights or interests.

But progress in all other targets needed to be accelerated in order to achieve the goal of closing the gap.

The report laid bare where the gap is widening, revealing fewer children are developmentally on track when starting school, and the rates of children in out-of-home care, adults in prison and people dying by suicide have all increased.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney says a Voice will help close the gap. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The report found more work needed to be done to ensure life expectancy for Indigenous men and women becomes the same as non-Indigenous men and women; that a higher percentage of Indigenous babies are born with a healthy birthweight; that a higher percentage of Indigenous young people finish school and obtain a tertiary qualification; that more 15-24 year olds are fully engaged in employment, education or training; and that the rate of people living in appropriate sized housing is improved.

Just last week, Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney used her National Press Club address to stress just how poorly Australia was faring in meeting its Closing the Gap Targets.

“We have to do things better,” she said, arguing for the need for the Voice to parliament referendum.

“The gap isn’t closing. Disadvantage and discrimination persist.”

Ms Burney said on Wednesday the report the government was committed to closing the gap, but more needed to be done and the Voice would help.

“Four Targets are getting worse – this is not acceptable,” she said.

“More of the same isn’t good enough, we have to do better.

“A Voice to Parliament will help to close the Gap, because we know that listening to communities leads to better outcomes that improve people’s lives.”

The report has found Closing the Gap targets are only being met in four categories. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brendan Read

The report found some states and territories are falling behind on target outcomes more than others.

Outcomes are worsening in the Northern Territory, and Commissioner Natalie Siegel-Brown said the out-of-home care rates in Victoria and South Australia were “particularly concerning”.

“And where states and territories are making progress toward better outcomes, without clear jurisdictional targets we cannot know whether this progress is enough,” Commissioner Natalie Siegel-Brown said.

The commission said significant data gaps for measuring some targets made it difficult to properly assess progress.

“We need data on the Priority Reforms to see if governments are changing the way they work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to improve outcomes,” Commissioner Romlie Mokak said.

“And we also need data to assess progress toward improved outcomes for family violence, community infrastructure, languages and digital inclusion.”

Originally published as Closing the Gap targets trending backwards, with just four on track