Formal alliance between the Government and Indigenous Peoples to ‘Close the Gap’

The Government and Indigenous health leaders today signed a Statement of Intent in the Great Hall of Parliament House to work together to achieve equality in health status and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians by the year 2030.

The move has been welcomed by Indigenous and non-Indigenous health representatives and Australian civil society and was the culmination of the first ever two-day Indigenous Health Equality Summit held in Canberra from March 18-20.

The Summit has developed working targets and benchmarks to be used to close the gap in Indigenous life expectancy by 2030.

• For further information:
  • View statement of intent
  • Formal alliance between government and Indigenous Peoples critical to eliminating the gap in life expectancy
    View media release: HREOC (20 March 2008)
  • New partnership paves way for health equality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians
    View media release: HREOC (20 March 2008)
  • Rudd, Nelson declare intent on Indigenous health gap
    View media release: ABC (20 March 2008)
  • View website: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission