Russell Broadbent here, Member for Monash.
Today, March 20, is Closing the Gap Day.
It’s been some 20 years since the Social Justice Report in 2005 was released, which prompted grassroots campaigns to bring about health equality for Indigenous Australians.
Yes, some progress has been made in the years that followed. But how much has really changed since 2005?
The latest report released by the Productivity Commission is a disturbing read – just four of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track.
Indigenous incarceration rates are on the rise – alongside rates of suicide and indigenous children living in out of home care.
Closing the Gap is often framed as a political issue – but it isn’t. It’s a humanitarian one.
Focussing on the health, education, employment, and social wellbeing of ALL Australians, especially Indigenous Australians who have been historically marginalised and neglected, should be a priority regardless of who’s in power.
