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Write to the Government

At the launch of the CLOSETHEGAP campaign, Ian Thorpe described a visit to Arnhem Land as "shocking" and that he felt "embarrassed to be an Australian". Catherine Freeman and Ian Thorpe went on to urge all Australians to support the CLOSETHEGAP campaign and bring health equality to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders within a generation.

Join Catherine and Ian to achieve Indigenous health equality by sending a letter (below) to the Government. You can do this simply by filling in your details and pressing send. Spread the word by forwarding this web page to five friends and family members and asking them to write to the Government too.

This letter will be automatically sent to the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, the Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon and the Treasurer, Wayne Swan. (Alternatively, you can download the letter and personalise your message before sending it in the post. If you do this please also send a copy of this letter c/- Community Campaigns, Oxfam Australia, 132 Leicester St, Carlton, Vic, 3053.)

Dear Minister,

I am one of a growing number of Australians that are deeply concerned about the state of Indigenous health in this country. This is a situation that sees Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders die on average 17 years younger than other Australians and where Indigenous health statistics are comparable to or worse than those for people living in the developing world.

It is a national disgrace that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders do not have the same access to health services that other Australians enjoy. The Labor party has committed to closing the gap in Indigenous life expectancy through effective, costed and timetabled action. I now call on you to demonstrate that commitment through:

  • Increasing annual Indigenous health funding by $460 million to enable equal access to health services
  • Increasing Indigenous control and participation in the delivery of health services
  • Addressing critical social issues such as housing, education and self-determination which contribute to the Indigenous health crisis

Countries such as the United States and Canada have shown that narrowing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous life expectancies is possible. Many success stories in Aboriginal controlled health services are further proof of what could be possible with increased funding and community control.

In closing, I urge Australia's federal, state and territory governments to significantly increase funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health as an essential first step towards closing the gap. This is an issue of utmost importance to me and will be a significant factor on which I will judge the success of your Government.

Yours sincerely,

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