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