The latest data from the Productivity Commission on Closing the Gap reveals a concerning trend, particularly in NSW because while some progress has been made, many key targets remain off track, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by First Nations communities.
But notably, Indigenous youth incarceration has surged with children and young people incarcerated at rates over 19 times higher than their non-Indigenous counterparts.
The Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT has pointed out that this rise in incarceration reflects a broader failure in the state’s approach to Closing the Gap… and despite commitments to work with Indigenous communities, the NSW government continues to prioritise punitive measures over community-led solutions, leading to worsening outcomes.
“This is what happens when governments prioritise policing, imprisonment and punishment instead of listening to [the] best evidence about the solutions that actually work,” Ms Warner said.
In particular, the data shows that Indigenous children in NSW’s youth detention system remain disproportionately represented with 60% of those aged 10-13 in detention being Aboriginal, which comes as Indigenous adults now comprise 31% of the state’s prison population despite making up only 3.2% of the overall population.
And beyond the justice system, the broader Closing the Gap targets paint a grim picture with life expectancy gaps remaining stagnant, with Indigenous Australians expected to live nearly a decade less than non-Indigenous Australians.
Additionally, the suicide rate among Indigenous people continues to climb, particularly among young adults, further highlighting the urgent need for culturally appropriate interventions.
However, some areas have seen positive developments with targets related to healthy birthweight for babies and the expansion of land and sea rights for Indigenous communities are on track… but these successes do little to offset the overall regression in other critical areas like child welfare and justice.
NSW Labor and David Harris Fails to Close the Gap
So even though the NSW government has reiterated its commitment to working with Aboriginal organisations to address these issues, emphasising shared decision-making and community-led solutions… The urgency of the situation demands more than just promises.
And with the 2031 deadline for many Closing the Gap targets fast approaching, it’s clear that a significant shift in strategy is required to ensure that these gaps don’t continue to widen
