ASSA and CAEPR undertook this task in response to policy currently being implemented by government which:

• Is not informed by available evidence from research
• Is not based on the aspirations of residents of homelands/outstations
• Will not deliver substantive equality 
• Has the potential to widen the gap in life expectancy, and
• Is not consistent with Australia's international obligations.

The forum calls on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to:

• Recognise the cultural, environmental and strategic importance of nearly 1,000 homelands/outstations located on the Aboriginal estate, including along the northern coastline
• Recognise the unique significance of homelands/outstations for Aboriginal livelihoods, health, education and well-being and in the provision of environmental services
• Recognise the importance of homelands/outstations for linguistic diversity and Indigenous Knowledge 
• Call a moratorium on COAG and other government processes, like the reform of CDEP, that are undermining the positive contributions made by homelands/outstations to Closing the Gap
• Assess the compatibility of current policy on homelands/outstations with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which your government endorsed earlier this year, and
• Refer the issue of homelands/outstations to a parliamentary inquiry such as the Senate Select Committee on Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities.

The Communique is available below as a PDF document.