ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) is launching a campaign to urge supporters to write to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) about critical weaknesses in its $4.6 billion 'closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage' strategy.

ANTaR National Director, David Cooper, said that key social determinants - the major contributors to Indigenous health inequality and disadvantage - have been overlooked in COAG's strategy.

"The evidence tells us that ignoring these key contributors will undermine progress on achieving closing the gap targets and place Indigenous futures in jeopardy."

Dr Cooper said that factors such as individual and community control, racism and social exclusion and the maintenance of cultural identity, strongly influence health and wellbeing, and the social and economic development of communities.

"The Australian Government and COAG are shutting Indigenous people out of decision-making. Top-down, discriminatory solutions are being imposed that significantly reduce opportunities for control over their lives and communities."

For example:

• New Indigenous housing will only be provided where communities sign over control of the land and housing to government agencies – forcing communities to trade their cultural rights in order to obtain ordinary citizenship rights.1
• Abandoning CDEP employment in remote areas will transfer thousands from work to welfare and jeopardise many successful Indigenous enterprises and organisations.
• The focusing of new housing, and remote services and infrastructure on only 25 communities nationally means that over 1200 Indigenous communities face reduced prospects for tackling entrenched disadvantage and an uncertain future.

Dr Cooper said that confusion, uncertainty and frustration from a lack of genuine engagement are negatively impacting on communities.

"To achieve its closing the gap targets, COAG must develop an evidence-based, comprehensive, long-term plan incorporating direct health as well as social and cultural factors, in partnership with Indigenous communities.

"COAG must support and engage more effectively with Aboriginal-controlled organisations in all areas of disadvantage, including the Aboriginal community-controlled health sector, which has proved to be a critical force in driving improved service delivery and health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal communities", Dr Cooper concluded.

Media comment: David Cooper 0418 486 310