Labor to put $424 million into closing the gap

On the 15^th anniversary of the national apology to the Stolen Generations, the federal government unveils its plan to put $424 million dollars into improving life outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

While Kevin Rudd’s apology to Stolen Generations back in 2008 was a significant acknowledgement of government failures, the 2022 Closing the Gap report showed that little progress has been made on improving life outcomes for First Nations people.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney said, “I think governments have tried but there is enormous failure in meeting all the closing the gap targets… More needs to be done to close the gap.”

Ms Burney said the Labor government’s new plan aims to deliver real change for Indigenous Australians, with $150 million going towards water infrastructure in Indigenous communities.

“I think it would be a shock to many people that there are many communities — remote Aboriginal communities in Australia — that do not have clean drinking water and cannot have dialysis because the water is not clean enough for the dialysis machines, despite the fact that renal failure is such an issue in our communities,” Ms Burney said.

There will also be $111.7 million in federal funding for a year-long partnership with the Northern Territory government to build new remote housing, as well as $12 million to make food more affordable and accessible in remote communities.

The government also said it would allocate $21.9 million over five years to place-based healing programs and early intervention for family violence, $38.4 million over four years to on-country education and culturally appropriate distance learning, and $21.6 million to an additional year of boarding for remote and rural students

Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy is enthusiastic about Labor’s plan.

“The substantial investment in clean drinking water, remote housing and food security will be a game changer for so many Indigenous Australians who live out in bush communities,” McCarthy said.