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MEDIA RELEASE

18 April 2013

IT’S TIME TO HONOUR OUR COMMITMENT ON INDIGENOUS HEALTH

INDEPENDENT Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott has joined the call for a new partnership between the federal and state governments to close the health and life expectancy gaps between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

“COAG must recommit to further health programs that close the gap and deliver equity,” Mr Oakeshott said.

“This should be a core value for all governments in Australia.

“We have come a long way since the 2008 COAG commitments, and the population health statistics continue to improve.

“However, more, much more, needs to be done and I congratulate the Prime Minister on her commitment today to increase the Commonwealth’s contribution over the next three years to $777 million.

“COAG must recommit to closing the gap at its meeting tomorrow if we, as a nation, are going to honour our 2008 pledge to close the life expectancy gap by 2030,” Mr Oakeshott said.

ENDS

Media contact: Sharon Fuller - 0429 787320