States seek detail on closing health gap

JULIA Gillard has put an agreement on closing the gap in health between black and white Australians on the COAG agenda today.

JULIA Gillard has put an agreement on closing the gap in health between black and white Australians on the COAG agenda today, but the states have indicated they will not sign up until they receive more detail on the proposed deal.

The Prime Minister said yesterday "this is unambiguously in our nation's interests and in the interests of indigenous Australians, so I'd certainly hope that that agreement gets endorsed all around the country".

But the Victorian government challenged Ms Gillard to go even further and commit to a four-year agreement. Victorian Health Minister David Davis said his government had committed a record $61.7 million boost to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal Victorians in the forthcoming 2013-14 state budget.

"The Victorian government commitment, made last week, represents a landmark investment of $61.7m in the effort to close the gap in this state," he said.

"We would also like to see the commonwealth match Victoria's 30 per cent increase in funding and sign on for four years, similar to Victoria's commitment". State premiers and chief ministers were overwhelmed yesterday with hundreds of letters and messages urging them to sign up from individualsand organisations.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles said he had received no information from the federal government about its proposed offer, despite it having appeared in the press. "It's really management by media rather than working with the states and territories," he said.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he could not commit to anything until he had more detail.

"I've only just heard about this," he said.

"How did I hear about it? From the media."

A spokesman for the NSW Ministry of Health said the government was committed to closing the gap in disadvantage between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation spokesman Justin Mohamed said the ability to improve Aboriginal life expectancy rates is at risk if there were any delays.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: JARED OWENS, AMOS AIKMAN