From ANTAR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation), an organisation that's been around for quite some time of good reputation http://www.antar.org.au/success
Hi! :) I recently contacted the Labor Party's minister for health regarding Indigenous health issues and I thought you might like to see her response :)
Recently you contacted me expressing your concerns and calling for action to improve Indigenous health.
On 27 May 2007 Australia commemorated the 40th anniversary of the 1967 referendum, which empowered the Commonwealth to make laws for Indigenous Australians.
Forty years on and many Indigenous Australians remain exposed to poverty, exclusion, dispossession, violence and injustice. It is unacceptable that in a country with our prosperity, that we have one of the widest gaps in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the world.
On 27 May Labor Leader Kevin Rudd announced Labor’s commitment to closing the life expectancy gap within a generation. Labor announced a $261 million down-payment on this commitment: New Directions, An equal start in life for Indigenous children. Labor’s policy focuses on the early years, by proposing greater investment in child and maternal health, accommodation for indigenous mothers and tackling rheumatic fever in Indigenous children. It also outlines out plans for early childhood development as well as improving Indigenous childrens’ literacy and numeracy.
Kevin Rudd committed to the following national goals:
Eliminating the 17-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation; At least halving the rate of Indigenous infant mortality among babies within a decade; At least halving the mortality rate of Indigenous children aged under five within a decade; and At least halving the difference in the rate of Indigence students at years 3, 5 and 7 who fail to meet reading, writing and numeracy benchmarks within 10 years. Closing the gap is a significant challenge, but Labor is committed to turning this disadvantage around and to improving the life chances of Indigenous Australians.
Recently you contacted me expressing your concerns and calling for action to improve Indigenous health.
On 27 May 2007 Australia commemorated the 40th anniversary of the 1967 referendum, which empowered the Commonwealth to make laws for Indigenous Australians.
Forty years on and many Indigenous Australians remain exposed to poverty, exclusion, dispossession, violence and injustice. It is unacceptable that in a country with our prosperity, that we have one of the widest gaps in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the world.
On 27 May Labor Leader Kevin Rudd announced Labor’s commitment to closing the life expectancy gap within a generation. Labor announced a $261 million down-payment on this commitment: New Directions, An equal start in life for Indigenous children. Labor’s policy focuses on the early years, by proposing greater investment in child and maternal health, accommodation for indigenous mothers and tackling rheumatic fever in Indigenous children. It also outlines out plans for early childhood development as well as improving Indigenous childrens’ literacy and numeracy.
Kevin Rudd committed to the following national goals:
Eliminating the 17-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation;
At least halving the rate of Indigenous infant mortality among babies within a decade;
At least halving the mortality rate of Indigenous children aged under five within a decade; and
At least halving the difference in the rate of Indigence students at years 3, 5 and 7 who fail to meet reading, writing and numeracy benchmarks within 10 years.
Closing the gap is a significant challenge, but Labor is committed to turning this disadvantage around and to improving the life chances of Indigenous Australians.
I invite you to read Labor’s policy, “New Directions, An equal start in life for Indigenous children”, which can be accessed at: http://www.alp.org.au/download/new_directions___indigenous_children.pdf.
Thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Nicola Roxon MP
Shadow Minister for Health
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