Senate debates

Thursday, 5 August 2021

Questions without Notice

Closing the Gap

2:23 pm

Photo of Susan McDonaldSusan McDonald (Queensland, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Colbeck. Can the minister advise the Senate on the latest health measures to support Closing the Gap?

Photo of Richard ColbeckRichard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | | Hansard source

[by video link] Thanks, Senator McDonald, for the opportunity to outline these important measures. I know that Senator McDonald takes a strong interest in Closing the Gap, particularly working with local communities in Far North Queensland.

In support of the first Closing the Gap Implementation Plan, the Morrison government is investing more than $300 million in health infrastructure and programs to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access health services when and where they need them. The government is also investing $45 million to ensure the best start in life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children through the Healthy Mums and Healthy Bubs program.

This funding is an additional $82 million for the Connected Beginnings program, which includes funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services. These programs are focused on promoting healthy outcomes and healthy lifestyle choices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their babies. This will provide mothers with improved access to health care, including access to antenatal care, from their health providers and will provide support until their baby is one year old. These programs complement and build on the government's investment of more than $781.1 million in the 2021-22 budget to prioritise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and ageing outcomes. The Closing the Gap implementation plan sets a foundation for the Commonwealth's efforts over the next decade in achieving the targets in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, signed by all Australian governments in July 2020.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator McDonald, a supplementary question?

2:25 pm

Photo of Susan McDonaldSusan McDonald (Queensland, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

How is the Liberal and Nationals government supporting Indigenous Australians as part of the response to COVID-19?

Photo of Richard ColbeckRichard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | | Hansard source

[by video link] Through the Commonwealth government's $1 billion investment in new Closing the Gap measures, we're investing $254.4 million in infrastructure to better support the critical work of Aboriginal community controlled health organisations, which have been a significant part of the government's response to COVID-19. [inaudible] operated by [inaudible] communities delivering comprehensive and culturally appropriate primary healthcare services, including administering COVID-19 vaccines across rural and remote Australia. We are absolutely committed to improving health services for Indigenous Australians, their families and their communities. Aboriginal community controlled health organisations have been vital in providing health support for Aboriginal communities across Australia.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator McDonald, a supplementary question?

2:26 pm

Photo of Susan McDonaldSusan McDonald (Queensland, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

What are the socioeconomic targets related to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap?

2:27 pm

Photo of Richard ColbeckRichard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | | Hansard source

[by video link] The new National Agreement on Closing the Gap was released in July last year and represents a significant shift in the Closing the Gap framework. Seventeen national socioeconomic targets will track progress in improving life outcomes, including: closing the gap in life expectancy within a generation by 2031; increasing the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies with a healthy birth weight to 91 per cent by 2031; and significant and sustained reduction in suicide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people towards zero. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health plan is underpinning action to drive progress against these targets with a combined national focus. The Closing the Gap implementation plan has been developed by ministers, departments and agencies across our nation, with peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners, particularly the Coalition of Peaks, representing around 50 community controlled organisations. (Time expired)