Govt pledges $842m to Close the Gap in the Northern Territory

The Federal and Northern Territory Governments, together with the Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory, have signed a Partnership Agreement to strengthen service delivery in remote First Nations communities in the Northern Territory.

Labor says it will commit $842.6 million over six years to deliver the Northern Territory Remote Aboriginal Investment.

“Australians want to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Australians believe in the fair go,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

The task before us is to build a future in which all Australians have access to the same opportunities.

The funding will:

• Continue to deliver essential services for remote communities including policing, women’s safety, education and alcohol harm reduction.
• Increase funding for Aboriginal interpreter services and deliver new funding for community development, mediation and peacekeeping activities.
• Continue to fund hearing and oral health services.
• Strengthen support for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and enable the transition of services from government to community-control over time.
• Empower remote Aboriginal communities by establishing and funding local groups in up to eight locations that will design and deliver services for community, in community, by community. This includes support for communities to navigate and access economic development and employment opportunities.
• Fund up to 12 Aboriginal Community Controlled Children and Family Centres to provide coordinated solutions to complex issues relating to family safety and child development.
• The commitment will offer certainty for over 570 jobs, including more than 278 jobs for First Nations Territorians, and ensure remote First Nations communities can access the services needed to Close the Gap.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said the investment would ensure remote First Nations communities have access to the critical services they need, while supporting communities to lead in their economic and social development.”

Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory Convenor, Dr John Paterson said his organisation welcomed the commitment.

“This investment and commitment from Governments is another step in the right direction toward enabling true self-determination for Aboriginal Territorians,” he said.