ANTaR today welcomes the Government ’s commitment to work in
partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and
organisations to develop a national plan to improve health equality.

Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon and Minister for Health
and Ageing, Nicola Roxon announced this morning that the National
Health Leadership Forum (NHLF) is to become the national representative
voice to Governments on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs were largely spared from major cuts in this year's tough Federal Budget and will benefit from increased investment in health and mental health.

But there was little other significant investment in expanded or new programs to close the gap.

The National Director of ANTaR says a report released today confirms the urgent need for governments to reduce the disproportionate number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people being imprisoned.

Jacqueline Phillips says the latest report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows the imprisonment rate of Indigenous Australians has increased by more than 50 per cent over the last decade.