Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Community Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware of comments by ANZ Chief Executive Officer, John McFarlane, in relation to reconciliation that the setting of targets is the only way to achieve results, and that it is important to measure where you are and where you want to be otherwise nobody would be accountable? In this, the 10th year since the Bringing them home report into the stolen generations was handed down and the 40th year since the passing of the 1967 referendum, and in the spirit of reconciliation, will the Prime Minister join us in committing to take action to at least halve the mortality gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children under the age of five within 10 years?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Jagajaga for her question. I endeavoured in the reply I gave to the Leader of the Opposition to express my views generally on these issues, and particularly on matters of targets. I share the view of the minister that the only real target is complete equality of outcomes in relation to all Australians.