Council of Australian Governments promise $4.6 billion for Indigenous issues

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced a commitment of $4.6 billion for Indigenous issues at its meeting in Canberra on 29 November 2008.  The Prime Minister, Premiers, Chief Ministers and the President of the Australian Local Government Association, along with the Commonwealth, State and Territory Treasurers, agreed to fund initiatives for Indigenous Australians across the areas of early childhood development, health, housing, economic development and remote service delivery.

The funding will address the following areas:

• remote Indigenous housing – an additional funding of $1.94 billion over 10 years by the Commonwealth will address overcrowding, homelessness, poor housing conditions and the severe housing shortage in remote Indigenous communities;
• Indigenous economic participation – the Commonwealth and the states will invest $229 million to assist up to 13,000 Indigenous Australians gain employment;
• remote service delivery –  $291 million over six years will be spent by the Commonwealth and states to improve access to services by Indigenous Australians in remote areas; and
• primary health care – $1.6 billion over four years will be used to expand primary health care and targeted prevention activities, to reduce the burden of chronic disease.

COAG has previously agreed to six ambitious targets for closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians across urban, rural and remote areas, and the additional funding will go a long way towards reaching these targets.

•  Further information:
  • View website: COAG
  • View website: COAG Indigenous reforms
  • COAG’s funding an ‘investment’ in Indigenous affairs
    View media release: ABC News (1 December 2008)
  • COAG funding addresses Indigenous issues: Henderson
    View media release: ABC News (30 November 2008)
  • Health equality for Indigenous Australians a step closer: Close the Gap Coalition welcomes COAG funding
    View media release: Oxfam Australia (1 December 2008)