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Thursday, 22 March 2012
Page: 2579

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (12:23): I move:

That the Senate—

   (a)   notes that in 2008 the Government and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia signed the Closing the Gap Statement of Intent; and

   (b)    acknowledges that i t i s too early to accurately measure progress but calls on all parties to reaffirm commitment to its objectives:

       (i)    To developing a comprehensive, long-term plan of action, that is targeted to need, evidence-based and capable of addressing the existing inequities in health services, in order to achieve equality of health status and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians by 2030.

       (ii)    To ensuring primary health care services and health infrastructure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples which are capable of bridging the gap in health standards by 2018.

       (iii)    To ensuring the full participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their representative bodies in all aspects of addressing their health needs.

       (iv)    To working collectively to systematically address the social determinants that impact on achieving health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

       (v)    To building on the evidence base and supporting what works in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and relevant international experience.

       (vi)    To supporting and developing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health services in urban, rural and remote areas in order to achieve lasting improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.

       (vii)    To achieving improved access to, and outcomes from, mainstream services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

       (viii)    To respect and promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including by ensuring that health services are available, appropriate, accessible, affordable, and of good quality.

       (ix)    To measure, monitor, and report on our joint efforts, in accordance with benchmarks and targets, to ensure that we are progressively realising our shared ambitions.

Question agreed to.