Gap widens in the NT, as report shows little progress

THE Territory is on track to meet just one out of seven Closing the Gap targets — and Aboriginal leaders say they are disappointed by not surprised

Andrea Mason has welcomed a refresh of the targets

THE Territory is on track to meet just one of the seven Closing the Gap targets — and Aboriginal leaders say they are disappointed but not surprised.

The 11th report, handed down by Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday, showed the NT continued to have the nation’s highest indigenous child mortality rate.

Indigenous Territorians also had the lowest life expectancy in Australia, with men expected to live just 66.6 years and 69.9 for women. Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council chief executive Andrea Mason said it was important to look at why there had been such little change in a decade.

“When the design of this framework was done, it wasn’t based on evidence about what can be achieved,” she said.

“We need the Territory to have more input. We need indigenous organisations that have direct responsibilities to be at the table and have a very clear understanding of what they are doing.” Ms Mason said considering the NT had a high indigenous population, there should be a greater emphasis on meeting the targets.

She welcomed a refresh of the Closing the Gap targets, which Mr Morrison said would give joint accountability and responsibility for setting the targets to indigenous Australians. Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT and Aboriginal Medical Services Alliances NT chief executive John Paterson said the refresh was long overdue.

“I am feeling more optimistic, because there is a real interested in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” he said.

“We’re the beneficiaries, we not only deliver services and understand how progress can be made, but we benefit.”

Mr Paterson, who was in Canberra to meet with Mr Morrison as the report was handed down, said Aboriginal leaders across the country had concerns about how the targets were progressing.

“The Northern Territory has only achieved one, it is really disappointing,” he said.

“We’re optimistic that this new game changer will hopefully create a shared responsibility in this whole process.

Menzies School of Health Research director Professor Alan Cass said the gap refresh showed a new way forward.

“It’s very clear in the health space — early child mortality, life expectancy — we are not closing the gap,” he said.

“But there are some good signs in the report — things that we know are crucial for good health. Smoking rates are falling, both in the general population and in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and the number of people that drink heavily is falling.”