All governments are accountable for the Closing the Gap commitments they have made.
Progress against the six targets is being monitored, and regularly reported. Improved statistics relating to Indigenous people will help to build a better evidence base against which to measure progress. COAG committed to data improvements through the National Indigenous Reform Agreement.
The COAG Reform Council, established by COAG to oversee implementation of the Commonwealth-State financial reforms, reports to COAG each year on progress against the six Closing the Gap targets.
- Read the COAG Reform Council’s second report: National Indigenous Reform Agreement:
Report on performance 2009-10.
Using this and other information, the Prime Minister is reporting to Parliament on achievements in Closing the Gap at the beginning of each parliamentary year.
The Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage framework, against which the Productivity Commission reports biennially, has been realigned to reflect the ‘building block’ approach.
COAG has also committed to report transparently on how much governments spend on Indigenous services. Through the Productivity Commission, the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision compiles the Indigenous Expenditure Report. The first report, containing data on the levels and patterns of government expenditure in 2008-09, was publically released on 28 February 2011.
The Coordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services is also reporting regularly to government on progress under the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery and the performance of government agencies in meeting their commitments.
The 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, was extended to help close some data gaps, particularly relating to Indigenous children.
The Closing the Gap Clearinghouse, managed by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, brings together quality information on ‘what works’ to overcome Indigenous disadvantage. The clearinghouse gives policy makers and program managers access to a developing evidence base of ‘best practice’ for achieving the Closing the Gap targets and related Indigenous reforms.