Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stressed the deeply-rooted problems within the Australian government and its inability to effectively combat Indigenous inequality. He emphasized that the cost of these failures cannot simply be quantified in monetary terms, as it has been measured in human lives. On the 16th anniversary of Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Indigenous population, Albanese called for a cultural transformation to address long-standing issues within the government.
In light of the recently presented Commonwealth’s Closing the Gap annual Report 2023 and the Implementation Plan 2024, Albanese announced numerous new initiatives, including the appointment of a national commissioner for First Nations children and the launch of a Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program. Although not all community-driven initiatives will produce immediate results, he emphasized the importance of change and the need to transition away from traditional methods.
Indigenous Minister Linda Burney raised concern over the unacceptable rates of unemployment in remote communities and the disconnect between remote workers and job opportunities. However, she expressed hope in the new remote jobs program and its aim to empower communities to select job opportunities in various sectors. While there has been some improvement in specific regions and jurisdictions, certain critical targets such as children’s early development and adult imprisonment have worsened. Allying with the Greens’ spokesperson, Senator Dorinda Cox, Linda Burney echoed the need to see real, actionable change within Indigenous communities.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton added to the conversation by pointing out that failures are not restricted to a single party or government. He called for transparency in the allocation of funding for Indigenous community programs and how the ambitious goal of creating 3,000 jobs under the new remote jobs program will be realized. In light of this, he stressed the importance of questioning the government and holding them accountable for their promises.
The conversation surrounding the vast inequalities within Indigenous communities is ongoing, and Australia continues to grapple with the effects of successive governments’ failures to address these deep-seated issues.