'Solutions are known': Why can't Australian governments Close the Gap? || Insiders: On Background

Key Concepts:

• Closing the Gap: Government initiative to reduce inequalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians across various socio-economic indicators.
• Voice to Parliament: Proposed constitutional amendment to establish a body for Indigenous Australians to advise the Parliament on policies and laws affecting them.
• Garma Festival: A significant annual gathering in East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, bringing together Indigenous leaders, policymakers, artists, and musicians.
• Systemic Change: Fundamental reforms to address the underlying causes of Indigenous disadvantage.
• Community-led Solutions: Approaches that prioritize the input and control of Indigenous communities in addressing their own challenges.
• CDP (Community Development Programme): An employment program in remote Indigenous communities.
• Youth Incarceration: The imprisonment of young people, particularly relevant in the context of the Northern Territory.
• Disinformation: False or misleading information intended to deceive or misinform.
• Treaty: A formal agreement between the government and Indigenous Australians, addressing historical injustices and outlining future relationships.

Closing the Gap Update and Disappointing Results

• The latest Closing the Gap update reveals mixed results, with some improvements in preschool enrollment and employment numbers.
• However, there's been regression in key areas such as early childhood development, the number of children in out-of-home care, adult incarceration rates, and Indigenous suicide rates.
• Thomas Mayo emphasizes that these statistics represent real people and their struggles.
• The report indicates a slight worsening of progress, with only four targets on track compared to five the previous year.

Reasons for Failure and Lack of Community Influence

• Mayo attributes the failures to the lack of influence Indigenous communities have in decision-making processes.
• He highlights the frustration that solutions are often known but not acted upon, and recommendations from reports like the Royal Commission into Deaths in Custody are not fully implemented.
• He points out the wasteful cycle of policy changes, where good programs are reversed after only a few years due to changes in government or priorities.

Example of Policy Reversal: CDEP vs. CDP

• Mayo cites the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program as a positive example where communities had significant input into meaningful work opportunities.
• The CDEP program was replaced by the Community Development Programme (CDP) under the Tony Abbott government, which was more punitive and disconnected from communities, resembling "work for the dole."
• This shift led to the destruction of established infrastructure and a loss of community engagement in work that built community assets.

Current State of Community Engagement

• While there has been some improvement compared to the previous government, challenges remain in effectively implementing policies and ensuring consistency.
• The layers of bureaucracy and difficulty in navigating government departments continue to hinder progress.
• This is a key reason why Indigenous people advocated for a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament, to ensure their voices are heard at the highest level of decision-making.

Northern Territory: Tough on Crime Approach and its Consequences

• The Northern Territory is experiencing particularly negative outcomes, with regression in eight target areas, including adult and youth incarceration rates.
• Mayo attributes this to the "tough on crime" approach adopted by the Country Liberal Party (CLP) government, including lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10.
• He argues that this approach ignores the underlying causes of crime and the advice of experts, using Indigenous people as a "political football."
• Mayo asserts that locking up more children and further traumatizing them will not lead to improvement and will likely perpetuate a cycle of crime.
• He criticizes the Northern Territory government for being "Trumplike" in its rhetoric and dismissive of experts and advocates.
• Chief Minister Leah Finoiaro's comments about critics of police force being "uneducated" are cited as an example of this dismissive attitude.

Commonwealth Pressure and Territory Powers

• Mayo believes the Commonwealth government needs to exert more pressure on the Northern Territory government, potentially through its territory powers or funding mechanisms.
• He emphasizes the urgent need to address the damaging policies and the harm they are causing to Indigenous lives.

Prime Minister's Visit to Garma Festival

• Mayo hopes to hear a commitment from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Garma Festival to systemic change and ensuring Indigenous voices are at the forefront of decision-making.
• He suggests the need for a mechanism, even without constitutional recognition, to ensure community input and expert guidance in policy development.
• While acknowledging the work of peak organizations, Mayo believes structural reform is needed to improve consistency and effectiveness in program delivery.

Future of Constitutional Recognition and Indigenous Voice

• Mayo states that the decision on whether to pursue a legislated voice or other forms of recognition needs to be made by First Nations people collectively.
• He highlights the importance of fighting against disinformation and the need for courage from leaders and allies in the Australian public.
• He mentions a significant meeting of traditional owners in Port Douglas in October, where decisions on the way forward are expected to be made.
• Mayo believes that Australians are generally supportive of change but were confused during the referendum campaign due to powerful tactics used by the "No" campaign.

Urgent Issues and the Need for Change

• Mayo emphasizes the urgency of addressing issues like the policies in the Northern Territory that are disproportionately incarcerating Indigenous children.
• He encourages people to examine the Productivity Commission's reports on the gaps and to recognize that the current situation is not normal.
• He points out that Indigenous Australians are among the most incarcerated people in the world, which is a result of voicelessness, powerlessness, lack of recognition, and a lack of vision from leaders.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The interview highlights the ongoing challenges in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, despite government efforts. Key issues include the lack of meaningful community involvement in decision-making, policy reversals that undermine progress, and the detrimental impact of "tough on crime" approaches in the Northern Territory. Thomas Mayo calls for systemic change, a renewed focus on community-led solutions, and a commitment from leaders to address the root causes of Indigenous disadvantage. He emphasizes the urgent need to address harmful policies and ensure that Indigenous voices are heard and respected in shaping their own future.