The agreement also sets out 16 goals, with a focus on socio-economic outcomes for indigenous peoples. While some objectives are linked to clear and quantifiable measures for annual reports, others do not. In the meantime, the level of transparency of governments is much more limited when it comes to critical work to transform their own agencies. Four other objectives – domestic violence, access to information, municipal infrastructure and inland waters – are expected to be developed sometime next year. After more than two years of consultation and a year of negotiations, Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised the new agreement and said it was « realistic » and had « a very significant impact. » Coalition of Peaks Negotiator Within the Peaks coalition, Aunt Pat Turner, she also called it a « great step forward. » The agreed goals would not lead to parity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal detention rates for many decades, Waight said. The new national agreement builds on draft targets approved by the Council of Australian Governments in 2018. It sets 16 targets in areas such as education, employment, health and well-being, justice, security, housing, land and water and languages. In this sense, the new objectives are a marked improvement, as the range of policies is better suited to government demands in Aboriginal territories. In addition to the scoreboard, the Productivity Commission will conduct a comprehensive and independent review of progress every three years.
This review will analyze progress in achieving reforms, objectives, indicators and priority trajectories. It will also examine the factors that contribute to progress based on evaluations and other lessons learned. « The Coalition of Peaks has always said that goals alone do not advance change. We have seen that over the last 10 years. It`s about the full implementation of priority reforms by governments and the commitment of additional resources that our communities need and that will make a difference, » Turner said. The government will present 16 goals for indigenous advancement, including maintaining strong ties with land and culture, when Scott Morrison announces a new national agreement on closing the gap on Thursday. But she said she could not see how the goals would be achieved without additional public and federal funding. But at the end of the day, and what matters is that this new agreement leads to an adaptation of attitudes.
It sets a benchmark for government action and provides a real opportunity to put an end to the tyranny of low expectations for Aboriginal affairs. The former « Closing the Gap » plan, initiated by the Rudd government, has had only mixed results, but progress in many of its objectives has not been achieved. Premier Scott Morrison said he had failed to work with Aboriginal peoples to develop and achieve the 2008 goals. Goals are specific and measurable objectives that are monitored to show how progress is being made in each area of outcomes. Among each of these objectives, there are indicators that help to make people understand how progress is being made. Each of the objectives and their results are listed below.