Latest news with #ClosingTheGap
ABC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Garma celebrates 25 years as the gap widens for Territorians
Politicians and First Nations leaders have gathered in remote Arnhem Land for the country's largest Indigenous Festival Garma, and this year it celebrates 25 years. But there's not a lot to celebrate in the latest Closing the Gap report, particularly in the Northern Territory - the worst performing jurisdiction in the country. Closing the Gap is the key policy agreed to by federal, state and territory governments that aims to improve the health, education, employment and social outcomes for Indigenous Australians. The latest release of data this week, shows that nationally, only four out of the 19 targets are on track to be met by the deadline of 2031. Reporter: Alex Barwick with John Paterson, Ngalakan man, Chair of APONT, the peak body for Aboriginal organisations in the NT and CEO of AMSANT, the peak body for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health in the NT
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Anthony Albanese commits an extra $176million for Indigenous Australians amid calls for a treaty
Anthony Albanese has unveiled a $176million funding package aimed at boosting economic opportunities for Indigenous Australians, announced during his address at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land. The funding forms part of a new economic partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and the First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance. It includes $70million for Indigenous clean energy projects, $31million for a mobile TAFE program, and $75million for native title reform under the partnership. 'This builds on our commitment to the Closing the Gap Agreement, to its call for a new way of doing business and to the principle of shared decision-making,' he told the festival audience at Gulkula in the Northern Territory on Saturday. The approach will allow traditional owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing, and energy projects on their land and build equity beyond the land itself. Coalition of Peaks lead convener Pat Turner said the partnership was about putting Indigenous communities in control of their economic future. 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been clear for decades that our community-controlled organisations are the best employers of our people, providing the foundation for our economic development,' she said. Addressing the crowd at Garma, Yolngu leader and chair of the Yothu Yindi Foundation Djawa Yunupingu said he wanted a real economy for his people. 'We intend to use our lands and waters for our own future and the future of our children, and the future of our nation,' he said. National Native Title Council chief executive Jamie Lowe said this funding showed the government was serious about supporting traditional owners. 'Investing in the native title sector is game-changing,' he said. 'This injection of capacity will mean more jobs, more opportunities for young people and stronger protection for our cultural heritage.' While some organisations met the prime minister's announcement with praise, Aunty Glendra Stubbs, the elder in residence at community legal centre Knowmore, expressed disappointment in the lack of any mention of truth-telling. The government backed away from its commitment to Makarrata in 2024, and though he acknowledged the work of the Victorian truth-telling inquiry Yoorrook, Mr Albanese made no mention of a national process in his address. Aunty Glendra said it hurt to see truth-telling missing from the conversation. 'Our people have been asking for this for generations,' she said. 'Without truth, the pain of colonisation remains open -generation after generation. 'We can't heal what we won't name.' Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe said it was time for Mr Albanese to recommit to federal truth-telling and treaty. 'Cash for the corporations and a few utes are crumbs on the table while so many of our people are dying in custody and governments continue to steal and jail our children at record rates,' she said. Garma is marking its 25th festival, and Mr Yunupingu acknowledged those who started it in 1999 - his brothers - and the festival's roots in promises of treaty, which were 'washed down' by governments of the past but never forgotten. Mr Yunupingu said he felt the disappointment again at the result of the Voice referendum in 2023. 'We talked about it last year, we shed a tear to that and now it's behind us,' he said, speaking about Mr Albanese's visit to Garma in 2024.
ABC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
New national commissioner appointed amid worsening outcomes for Indigenous children
The government has appointed a new National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, as national targets to reduce child removal and youth detention continue to slide backwards. Adjunct Professor Sue-Anne Hunter, a Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman, will start in the role later this year. She replaces Lil Gordon, who has served in an acting capacity since January. The appointment follows recent data from the Productivity Commission that shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children remain more than ten times more likely to be in out-of-home care and 27 times more likely to be in youth detention than non-Indigenous children. Target 12 of the national Closing the Gap agreement, which aims to reduce over-representation in out-of-home care, is also not on track and is worsening. Nationally, just four out of the 19 targets are on track to be met by the deadline of 2031. Ms Hunter brings more than two decades of experience in child and family services, including frontline work and senior roles at the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and SNAICC — National Voice for Our Children. She also served as deputy chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission. After a career working in criminal justice and with young people, she described the new role as a lifetime's work, rather than a job. "I am honoured to accept this appointment as Australia's Inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People's Commissioner with the responsibility to ensure our systems are working to protect the wellbeing, rights and interests of children and young people," she said. "I recognise that we are at risk of losing another generation to systems that fail them, to removal, out-of-home care detention and a bleak future." The new role will involve the commissioner hearing directly from Indigenous young people and advocating for their rights. She said those children face a lot of risks. "The work is urgent and the statistics are grim. But our children are not statistics, they are our future," she said. "This role will elevate their voices and their concerns. They will be at the centre of everything I do." Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the appointment reflects the government's recognition that more needs to be done in ensuring Indigenous children have the same opportunities as every other child. "We created this commissioner role to ensure the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are not just heard, but are amplified," she said. Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said she looked forward to working with the incoming commissioner. "The number of First Nations children in out-of-home care and youth detention is deeply distressing and will take a collective effort to turn the figures around," Senator McCarthy said. The commissioner role helps support the implementation of Safe and Supported, the national framework for protecting children, which has been developed in partnership with states, territories and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders.
ABC News
02-08-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Garma festival sees pressure put on federal government to tie NT funding to Indigenous outcomes
A federal minister has reminded the Northern Territory government that there are "no blank cheques" and Commonwealth money needs to be tied to positive outcomes. Education Minister Jason Clare made the remark at the Garma Festival, after Yothu Yindi Foundation chief executive Denise Bowden issued a grim warning to the federal government ministers in attendance. 'It is a destructive tide that keeps breaking in on Aboriginal people,' Ms Bowden said. 'If we do not stem this tide of history, it will do its work and wash away the ancient knowledge and the ceremonies and traditions that keep the world in balance and give us hope. 'Don't be fooled by the beauty of Garma. The day-to-day life of Yolŋu people remains forever challenging. It's exhausting, it is soul-crushing. "Action is needed now. Don't leave Garma and put things on endless repeat, don't be fooled into thinking your attendance here is enough." Shortly after her address, Mr Clare was asked what his obligations were as education minister. "It's not a blank cheque. The money has got to be tied to the sorts of things that we know work," Mr Clare said. "I want kids in school, not in jail, and that's what that funding is all about." The shift in language comes amid increasing pressure on the federal government to use all powers at its disposal, including funding arrangements, to compel the CLP Territory government to meet its obligations under the Closing the Gap agreement. The CLP government was elected in 2024 and has brought a "tough on crime agenda" to the territory, including lowering the age of criminal responsibility and reinstating the use of spit hoods in youth detention. The North Australia Aboriginal Justice Agency estimates 40 Indigenous people have been taken into custody every day since the CLP came to power, and overall prison populations have increased by 40 per cent from 2019 to June 2024. The policies have received significant pushback, especially from Indigenous communities and organisations, including the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, which says the CLP government is refusing to meet or consult on legislation that will result in more Aboriginal people in prisons. Independent member for Mulka and Yolŋu man Yingiya Guluya said the federal government must stop funding the territory government if the money was being used to put Indigenous children in prison. "I need to send a message to the federal government: stop sending money, providing money to the Northern Territory government to build more prisons," he said. "It is systemic racism what's happening. Not looking after and listening to the Indigenous people, and we're not having a fair go." The calls for the federal government to intervene in the funding arrangement between the Commonwealth and the territory first came from the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), which has reported children as young as 11 being kept in watch houses for 48 hours, where they are alongside adults and the lights remain on 24 hours a day. Mr Guluya has visited watch houses and described the situation as "worse than a third world country". "I couldn't believe it, my tears just fell out," he said. "My heart was heavy to see young children, especially young girls staying in a watch house for a day or two or more. "The facility they live in is just outrageous. It's a horror. "It's the system that government is creating there." Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said she shared concerns about the incarceration of children. "I am deeply troubled by what I've seen and what I have heard, and this is a conversation I'd like to have directly with the chief minister," she said. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said while Garma had seen some "good announcements" from the federal government, big agenda items were not addressed. "The elephant in the room is our kids in out-of-home care and our kids in detention centres and deaths in custody that didn't even get a mention," Commissioner Kiss said. "All the money over here doesn't make a difference if that child can't leverage a future that's meaningful for themselves." Mr Guluya is calling for funding to be allocated to Indigenous communities to create on-country rehabilitation centres and keep children out of prisons. "Rather, listen to us in the community, and we want to build a rehabilitation centre on country. Resource to Indigenous people so that we build a proper education centre, learning centres, and so that young people learn to become, to know and understand who they really are." The NT government has been approached for comment.
SBS Australia
01-08-2025
- Politics
- SBS Australia
NITV Radio - On Air Program 1/08/2025
On today's program hosted by Lowanna Grant we explore a story as new data reveals the Northern Territory is the worst-performing state or territory when it comes to Closing the Gap, with youth advocates condemning recent government reforms around incarceration and detention. And as Indigenous leaders gather on Yolŋu Country for this weekend's Garma Festival, we reflect on its powerful legacy and continuing mission to shape a better future for First Nations people.
