The Palaszczuk Government today launched Queensland’s 2022 Closing the Gap Annual Report and Snapshot.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Craig Crawford said Queensland is closing the gap for First Nations peoples with positive trends in healthy baby birthweights, early childhood education, and a reduction in the rate of young people in detention.
Mr Crawford said Queensland was also on track to ensure Indigenous people maintain a cultural, spiritual, physical and economic relationship with their land and waters.
“The Closing the Gap Annual Report highlights positive changes with four targets on‑track,” Mr Crawford said.
“It is pleasing to see positive change as nine-in-ten Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies are born strong and healthy.
“Good birthweights should mean healthier kids going to school, and better health outcomes into their adult lives.
“We are also on track with ensuring pre-school aged children are enrolled in important early childhood education.
“Positive improvements have also been seen in youth justice overrepresentation results.
“There have also been good results with over 30 per cent (some 538,652km2) of Queensland’s landmass and 19 per cent (or 24,341km2) of Queensland’s seas now under native title.”
Mr Crawford said progress had been made but there is still much work to do to close the gap – particularly in rates of adult imprisonment and suicide.
“Working together is key to ensuring more First Nations families and communities have opportunities to thrive in childhood, school, work and life,” he said.
“That’s why the Queensland Government invested $3.1M in the 2022-23 budget to progress initiatives under the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Closing the Gap Agreement, including to strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled services and local decision making.
“Self-determination and community-led decision-making is at the heart of Queensland’s Path to Treaty, Local Thriving Communities reform, and our state’s role in achieving the new ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Agreement on Closing the Gap.
“Truth-telling, healing and reconciliation is also recognised as an important step towards improved whole-of-life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“Queensland Government agencies are re-doubling their efforts to work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders to design new ways of delivering services.”
Under the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Agreement, the Palaszczuk Government is committed to improved outcomes in health, housing, education, post-school qualifications, early childhood, employment, child protection, justice, languages, suicide prevention, domestic and family violence prevention, digital inclusion and land and water interests.
