Joint Council on Closing the Gap marks start of true partnership

Front row (L-R) – Natalie Lewis, Cheryl Axleby, Melissa Clarke, Vicki O’Donnell Second row (L-R): Hon Michelle Lensink MLC, Hon Jacquie Petrusma MP, Cindy Berwick, Jonathan Ford Third row (L-R): David O’Loughlin, Trevor Pearce, Muriel Bamblett, Katrina Fanning Fourth row (L-R): Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA, David Warriner, Ngaree Ah Kit MLA Fifth row (L-R): Tony Buti MLA, Pat Turner AM, Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion Sixth row (L-R): John Paterson

This week the inaugural meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Joint Council on Closing the Gap marked an historic step forward in the working relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and governments.

The Joint Council marks the start of a true partnership. Established under the Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap, the Joint Council will work to refresh the Closing the Gap framework and monitor its implementation over the next ten years.

The Joint Council includes twelve members of the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations, ministers from all Australian governments and one representative of the Australian Local Government Association.

It is the first COAG Council to include members from outside governments and is an historic step forward in the working relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and governments.

Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion co-chaired the first meeting of the Joint Council alongside Pat Turner, CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and on behalf of the Coalition of Peaks.

Read the full communique or find out more about Closing the Gap.