Newly appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, has announced a bipartisan political approach in response to the latest Productivity Commission report, which reveals troubling statistics about First Nations people. The report highlights an increase in the number of Indigenous Australians incarcerated, dying by suicide, and children placed into out-of-home care (OOHC). Minister McCarthy Calls for Bipartisan Approach on Indigenous Issues
Describing some of the data as “deeply troubling,” Minister McCarthy expressed her determination to collaborate with Indigenous Australians, the Coalition of Peaks, and all levels of government to “bring about positive change.”
“I will be reaching out to my colleagues across the parliament to seek a bipartisan approach to Indigenous affairs,” McCarthy stated.

Disturbing Findings and Targets
The Productivity Commission’s annual report shows that only five of 19 targets are on track: healthy birthweight for Indigenous babies, children enrolled in preschool, Indigenous employment, and land mass and sea waters covered under Indigenous legal rights and interests.
However, several areas are not on track, including early childhood development, incarceration rates for Indigenous adults, OOHC placements, and Indigenous suicide rates. Despite some improvements in life expectancy rates—Indigenous women born between 2020-22 are now expected to live for 75.6 years, and men for 71.9 years—these figures still fall short of non-Indigenous life expectancies and are unlikely to meet the 2031 target set by the government.

Minister McCarthy’s Commitment
Speaking on ABC Radio, Minister McCarthy emphasized the importance of keeping the Closing the Gap targets at the forefront of political discussions.
“I’d hate to think that the Closing the Gap target was ever removed…because this is about keeping it in front of every politician here, not just the Minister for Indigenous Australians,” she said. “Once you remove it from debate and from the public eye, it doesn’t get dealt with as it should.”
Call for Government Action
Report co-author Natalie Siegel-Brown stressed that the data should compel governments to act, highlighting the need for enacting Priority Reforms, such as strengthening the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector, shared decision-making, and improving government operations.
“The aspirations of the Agreement are not only achievable, but equity of outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is within reach if governments breathe life into the Priority Reforms,” Siegel-Brown said.
Contextual Analysis
For the first time, the report includes analysis of the historical and ongoing context for eight socioeconomic outcome areas. Coalition of Peaks co-convenor Catherine Liddle emphasized the importance of this contextual understanding.
“It’s so important because it helps us move away from a deficit narrative focused on just data without any understanding of the context as to the why and the how behind these numbers. Without that context and understanding, real change cannot happen,” Liddle stated.
Critique of Government Response
A previous Productivity Commission report in February criticized governments for treating the targets as “business as usual,” despite a new Closing the Gap agreement signed under former Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the need for Canberra to share power with communities, trust local knowledge, and listen to locals about what works and what doesn’t.
Indigenous-Led Solutions
Indigenous organizations have long advocated for Indigenous-led responses through Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations (ACCOs) as the most effective way to close the gap. Liddle pointed to areas where targets are being met, demonstrating that “when we control our services, we get better outcomes for our people.”
“We know that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are connected to their culture, the Closing the Gap measures are better met,” Liddle said, calling for more funding to be directed to Indigenous-led service providers.
Minister McCarthy’s call for a bipartisan approach, combined with the advocacy for Indigenous-led solutions, highlights the urgent need for collaborative and culturally informed strategies to address the disparities faced by First Nations people. The government’s commitment to enacting Priority Reforms and supporting Indigenous leadership is crucial for achieving equity and closing the gap.
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