Labor’s Approach to Close the Gap in Australia: Progress or Stagnation?

Labor’s First Nations Policy: Too Little, Too Late?

The Anthony Albanese government came into power (2022) pledging a renewed commitment to Close the Gap and advancing Indigenous affairs.

And central to their agenda was the endorsement of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the proposition of a Voice to Parliament referendum, heralded as pivotal for reconciliation.

But the referendum’s failure and the Productivity Commission’s recent critical assessment have highlighted the government’s shortcomings in effecting substantial change.

Missed Targets, Broken Promises

The Labor government inherited the Coalition’s revamped Closing the Gap framework, designed to foster genuine partnerships with First Nations communities… yet, the latest data reveals a concerning reality: only four out of 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track to be met by 2031, with several areas witnessing deteriorating outcomes (outcomes worsened for four targets).

Key Areas of Concern

• Incarceration Rates: Despite a national goal to reduce adult imprisonment by 15 per cent by 2031, the incarceration rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people rose by 15 per cent from 2023 to 2024, marking a total increase of 30 per cent since 2019.
• Child Protection: The rate of Indigenous children in out-of-home care has risen from 43 per 1,000 in 2019 to 54 per 1,000 in 2024.
• Suicide Rates: The suicide rate among Indigenous Australians reached 30.8 per 100,000 in 2022, marking the highest on record.

The Productivity Commission has directly criticised the government for its inadequate implementation of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Commissioner Selwyn Button emphasised the need for meaningful action to honour the commitments made under the agreement.

“In our review of progress towards the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, we found that governments had not taken enough meaningful action to meet their commitments under the Agreement” – said Commissioner Selwyn Button (Productivity Commission)

Funding and Decision-Making: Centralised and Selective

Despite promises to collaborate with Indigenous communities, funding and decision-making processes remain entrenched within bureaucratic structures.

And a recent example is the $22 million First Nations Digital Support Hub Program and Network of Digital Mentors Program grant, which was restricted to five pre-selected organisations, bypassing an open and competitive process…

And such selective funding practices have raised concerns about equitable access and Labor’s support for “self-determination”.

Symbolism Over Substance?

Labor has a history of symbolic gestures, from Kevin Rudd’s Apology to the Voice referendum.

So while these actions hold significance, they often fall short in transforming the material conditions of Indigenous Australians…. and without substantial policy reforms and genuine support for self-determination of grassroots First People, the Closing the Gap strategy risks becoming another chapter in political rhetoric devoid of real progress.

The Path Forward: Urgent and Systemic Change Needed

If Labor is serious about Indigenous policy reform, it must move beyond symbolism and deliver tangible outcomes. Investments in education, housing, employment and self-determined governance must match the scale of the challenges faced.

Because without such systemic changes, future Closing the Gap reports may continue to tell the same familiar story: unfulfilled promises, negligible change and a persistent, widening gap.