Luke Howarth (Petrie, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This morning the Prime Minister released the 2016 Closing the Gap report. In 2008, COAG agreed to several ambitious targets to address the disadvantage that Indigenous Australians face in life expectancy, child mortality, education and employment, which are so essential for every person for their purpose and daily goals. The Closing the Gap report outlines these targets and our progress towards meeting them.

The 2016 Closing the Gap report shows that progress towards the targets has been mixed, but there have been significant improvements over recent decades. For example, Indigenous infant mortality rates have more than halved over the past 16 years, and immunisation rates for Indigenous children are high, which is just fantastic news.

It is at this point that I would like to acknowledge the Gabi people in my local area, and the community groups and services that are assisting the government and the nation in Closing the Gap. I acknowledge the Moreton Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service, the Murriajabree Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Association, and the Murri Rugby League teams that train locally in Deception Bay. Thank you to these groups and the many more that are helping to empower the full potential of our First Australians.