What can the next government do to help Close the Gap? | 7.30

Key Concepts

• Post-Voice Referendum Policy Shift: Major parties moving away from national recognition (Voice) towards different approaches after the referendum's failure.
• Uluru Statement from the Heart: The 2017 call for Voice, Treaty, and Truth-telling. Labor initially committed but now focuses elsewhere post-referendum.
• Economic Empowerment: Labor's current primary focus for Indigenous affairs, involving jobs programs and procurement policies.
• Closing the Gap: The national framework to reduce Indigenous disadvantage, with most targets currently not on track.
• Indigenous Procurement Policy: Government policy setting targets for Commonwealth contracts awarded to Indigenous-owned businesses.
• Remote Jobs Program: Labor's initiative aiming to create 3,000 jobs in remote Indigenous communities.
• Coalition Policy Proposals: Includes a proposed audit of all Indigenous affairs spending and a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in Indigenous communities.
• Critiques from Indigenous Leaders: Concerns raised about broken promises (Mick Gooda), the effectiveness of proposed solutions (Gooda on Royal Commission), the focus on entry-level jobs vs. career progression (Shauna Gordon), the potential negative signalling of audits (Gordon), and the need to learn from community successes (Gordon).
• Internal Disparity: Recognition that economic policies benefit some Indigenous people/businesses significantly, while a large number remain disadvantaged.

Post-Referendum Policy Direction

Following the failed Voice referendum, both major political parties (Labor and the Coalition) are signalling new directions for Indigenous affairs, though First Nations leaders express skepticism, suggesting these ideas have been proposed before ("it's all been served up before"). National recognition via a constitutionally enshrined Voice is off the table for both parties. The Coalition leader stated, "we respect the decision... Australians voted against being divided," and promised "additional support to those indigenous Australians in a practical way."

The Uluru Statement from the Heart (2017), which called for Voice, Treaty, and Truth-telling, was initially fully endorsed by the Labor government upon election. However, former Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda criticizes the Prime Minister for walking away from this commitment post-referendum, calling it "another broken promise." Gooda argues the referendum was only on the Voice, not Treaty or Truth-telling, and suggests pursuing Truth-telling as a way forward consistent with the Uluru Statement commitment. Prime Minister Albanese acknowledged the referendum loss ("had a crack, it wasn't successful") and stated the government is now "concentrating on... economic empowerment."

Labor Government's Focus: Economic Empowerment

Labor's current strategy centres on economic empowerment. Key initiatives include:

1. Northern Territory Investment: An $840 million investment package for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory.
2. Remote Jobs Program: A new "remote jobs and economic development program" aiming to create 3,000 "real jobs, remote jobs, good jobs" as part of the Closing the Gap plan. The goal is "strengthening economic empowerment."
3. Indigenous Procurement Policy Boost: Increasing the target for Commonwealth contracts awarded to Indigenous-owned businesses from 2.5% to 4% by 2030. This policy, initiated a decade ago under the Abbott government, has seen $10 billion in contracts awarded to Indigenous companies.

Professor Marcia Langton notes positive developments, stating "the economic piece is happening" and citing data from the University of Melbourne's Dilin Duwa Centre showing the number of Indigenous businesses doubled in less than 10 years, generating $16 billion in 2022.

However, business owner and Liberal Party member Shauna Gordon critiques the focus of the jobs program, arguing that creating 3,000 mostly entry-level jobs is less impactful than advancing existing Aboriginal staff. She provides the example of Aboriginal Assistant Teachers who remain in those roles for decades ("20, 30 years") earning significantly less ("50% of the salary") than non-Aboriginal teachers and lacking benefits like teacher housing, questioning, "Why haven't we invested in developing those people up to be the teachers?" Gordon also cautions that economic policies risk widening the gap between Indigenous "haves and have-nots."

Coalition Opposition's Proposed Approach

The Coalition promises a "total rebuild" of Indigenous affairs policy, arguing that despite billions spent, "nothing is changing to improve the lives of marginalized indigenous Australians." Their key proposals are:

1. Audit of Indigenous Affairs: Conduct a comprehensive audit of all government programs and expenditure in Indigenous affairs to reprioritize funding towards "frontline solutions." The stated aim is to assess where outcomes are being achieved, not just look for corruption.
2. Royal Commission: Hold a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in Indigenous communities within the first 100 days of forming government.

Shauna Gordon supports better funding prioritization but calls the audit proposal an "overreach," suggesting known failings should be addressed directly. She warns that the term "audit" acts as "dog whistling," implying corruption even if unintended, despite many Indigenous organizations being well-run and winning governance awards.

Mick Gooda, who ran the 2016 Royal Commission into Child Protection and Youth Detention in the NT, criticizes the proposed Royal Commission into sexual abuse. He argues that concentrating on negatives "feeds into the psyche of Australians" and doubts it will "achieve much."

Closing the Gap Context and Overall Perspectives

The policy debates occur against a backdrop of poor progress on the Closing the Gap targets, with only 4 out of 19 currently on track. Prime Minister Albanese acknowledged this failure, stating, "Neither side of politics has done well enough for First Nations people... a desire to invest... hasn't happened." He emphasizes the need for stable government and good policy development.

Indigenous leaders advocate for a different approach. Shauna Gordon suggests shifting focus from measuring Indigenous outcomes against non-Indigenous benchmarks to identifying and learning from "pockets of success" within Indigenous communities. She asks, "...why are people in one community living longer? Why are they... healthier? Why are their kids going to school? I think if we can nail that then I think we can address this issue of disparity." The overarching sentiment from leaders is the need for governments to genuinely listen to Indigenous communities.

Synthesis/Conclusion

Following the Voice referendum failure, Australian Indigenous affairs policy is shifting away from symbolic national recognition towards practical measures. Labor prioritizes economic empowerment through jobs programs and procurement targets, yielding some positive business growth but facing criticism regarding the nature of jobs created and potential internal inequality. The Coalition proposes a fundamental overhaul via an audit of spending and a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse, proposals met with skepticism and concern about potential negative framing and effectiveness by Indigenous leaders. Amidst persistently poor Closing the Gap outcomes, Indigenous voices call for policies based on listening to communities and learning from internal successes rather than solely focusing on deficits or externally imposed solutions.