“It’s unconscionable that only five of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track, with some shamefully actually going backwards, according to the latest Productivity Commission report,” Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, said. “This lack of progress by governments means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are experiencing higher rates of suicide, more children taken away from families and into out-of-home care, sliding developmental outcomes for children and a truly shameful overrepresentation within the criminal justice system.
“Indeed incarceration rates for First Nations people is abysmal and only getting worse. In Tasmania in particular, incarceration rates for Aboriginal adults increased by more than 100 per cent over the last 10 years and for Aboriginal children they increased by more than 380 per cent over the same period.
“This report is a grim snapshot which demonstrates that the policies and programs of a succession of Australian governments have consistently failed Indigenous people and communities.
“It’s simply not good enough that the Government seems to be avoiding Indigenous issues since the failed Voice Referendum. Instead it must get back on the front foot, listen to First Nations people and get serious about funding and delivering frontline services.”