The success of the Close The Gap Campaign for Indigenous Health Equality, an Indigenous-led initiative involving a coalition of 40 or so concerned organisations, is reflected in the commitment by the Rudd Government in 2008 to the campaign's Statement of Intent and its adoption of 'closing the gap' as the government's flagship Indigenous policy framework. However, the prime minister's articulation of 'closing the gap' as the core of his government's commitment to a new relationship and partnership with Indigenous Australians reveals a limited, mainstream, formal equality agenda focused on 'life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity'. Having successfully engaged COAG in advancing this agenda through the adoption of targets and significantly-increased spending commitments, the government has ignored the evidence of what in practice would be required in order to 'close the gap'. In particular, it has no comprehensive, evidence-based strategy to address the social and cultural determinants of health - the critical factors such as housing, education, employment, lack of control, and the effects of racism and marginalisation - that are significant contributors to the burden of ill-health. Its approach is more reflective of the Howard Government's coercive 'practical reconciliation' agenda and is similarly marked by inadequate engagement with Aboriginal communities and reduced opportunities for Aboriginal control. The current closing the gap policies have the potential to intensify existing pressures on remote Aboriginal communities and to undermine Aboriginal aspirations for a self-determined future.

David’s talk will be followed by a brief response from Professor Jon Altman who will reflect on the Rudd Government’s ‘closing the gap’ framework in historical context, noting its strong links to the modernisation paradigm that has driven Indigenous affairs policy in Australia for the most part of 50 years. He will ask whether there are alternative frameworks that can better balance the two, often incompatible, goals of socio-economic equality for Indigenous citizens and the recognition of difference, choice and self-determination.

Presented by: David Cooper (Acting National Director, Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) in conversation with Jon Altman (ARC Professorial Fellow and Director, CAEPR)

Please note: This seminar is available in both Streaming Audio and MP3 formats.