The Commonwealth Minister for Indigenous Australians and Ministers responsible for Indigenous Affairs from all States and Territories met today via videoconference. Ministers reaffirmed their support for listening and working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to improve the lives of Indigenous people.
Ministers acknowledged that many First Nations Australians were disappointed by the referendum result on 14th October.
All Ministers committed to the principle that better outcomes are achieved when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are part of the solution and that communities are listened to.
Progress on the Closing the Gap implementation plan was discussed and Ministers welcomed the Productivity Commission’s Draft Report of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and its findings. Ministers discussed importance of the Agreement’s Priority Reforms in driving improvements.
Next week, the Ministers, Coalition of the Peaks and Australian Local Government Association will meet at the Joint Council for Closing the Gap in Melbourne to discuss progress of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.