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Close the Gap Highlights

The Close the Gap campaign has attracted immense public support since its launch by Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe in 2006. :

  • Nearly 200,000 Australians have signed the Close the Gap pledge
  • Thousands of Australians have written to the federal government demanding action
  • Tens of thousands of Australians have taken part in National Close the Gap Day events held around Australia

This show of public support has contributed to a shift in political will to tackle the health crisis. We have seen many significant and positive outcomes, including:

  • The appointment of a Federal Minister for Indigenous Health
  • Federal and nearly all State governments and opposition have signed a statement of intent to say that are committed to addressing Indigenous health inequality
  • The government’s commitment to report annually on progress to Close the Gap. We hold government to account for this commitment each year through our shadow report.
  • The agreement of state and territory governments and oppositions to sign the Statement of Intent to Close the Gap
  • An agreement to commence the development of a national Indigenous health plan in partnership with leading Indigenous health organisations
  • Continued bipartisan support to Close the Gap
  • The development of a strong and ongoing partnership with the NRL, which has already run three dedicated Close the Gap rounds
  • The long-awaited national apology (in February 2008) to the Stolen Generations, a moment in time that re-energised Australians to right the wrongs of our past
  • Significant short-term funding received (but a commitment to long-term funding still needed)

Find out where the Close the Gap campaign is at in the 2014 Progress and Priorities Report.

Photo highlights coming soon