Australian governments have been found to be failing in their efforts to reduce indigenous disadvantage, according to a report by the Productivity Commission. The report, which reviewed the 2020 overhaul of the national framework known as Closing the Gap, highlighted that decisions made by the government have exacerbated the challenges faced by Indigenous Australians.
Despite a landmark agreement reached three years ago between federal, state, and territory governments on new targets for reducing Indigenous disadvantage, the Productivity Commission found that some governments are disregarding or contradicting their commitments. The report stated that there has been too little transformation and too much business-as-usual, undermining the potential of the Agreement to improve outcomes for indigenous communities.
The review included insights from 200 groups, including 121 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations, and concluded that progress toward the new agreement is not being felt on the ground. The report identified that government decisions often go against Indigenous people’s priorities and perspectives, exacerbating rather than remedying disadvantage and discrimination.
The report highlighted that progress on implementing four priority reforms has been slow, uncoordinated, and piecemeal. Additionally, it emphasized the need for significant change, which cannot be achieved through a business-as-usual approach. In light of these findings, Australians are scheduled to vote in 2023 on whether to establish an independent Indigenous Voice in Parliament through a constitutional amendment. If established, the body would provide advice to the parliament on matters relating to Indigenous Australians, aiming to address disadvantages.
The report’s findings further bolster the argument in favor of the Indigenous Voice, as it demonstrates that the current approach taken by governments fails to grasp the magnitude of the required change. The report criticized government agencies for adopting versions of shared decision-making that only involve consulting with Indigenous people on pre-determined solutions, rather than collaborating on identifying the problem and co-designing a solution.
The report’s publication raises renewed awareness about the urgency to address Indigenous disadvantage and the need for substantial systemic changes. The Productivity Commission’s findings shed light on the gaps between commitments made by governments and the real outcomes experienced by Indigenous communities. The report serves as a call-to-action for governments to reevaluate their strategies and work in genuine partnership with Indigenous groups, ensuring their priorities and perspectives are reflected in decisions that aim to tackle disadvantage and discrimination. It is imperative that governments take swift and tangible steps to honor their commitments and drive meaningful change that will benefit Indigenous Australians.
