Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Dodson for his question. He is absolutely right: we need to be engaging with First Australians and ensuring, when we're implementing our Closing the Gap targets, that we're working with our First Australians and their Indigenous communities—and, indeed, the states and territories. That's why the discussion tomorrow is so important, around the health council and these specific issues.

When it comes to consultation, my advice is that in 2017 the Department of Health and the Implementation Plan Advisory Group, made up of Indigenous health experts, met with over 600 people, received 102 submissions and led an extensive national consultation process, with over 13 face-to-face forums right around Australia. So we do indeed take very, very seriously the need to engage consistently and holistically with Indigenous leaders and communities in the implementation plan.