[Greens-Media] Major parties reject Close the Gap Day pledge

[Twomey, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

Major parties reject Close the Gap Day pledge 

Despite yesterday's unanimous agreement in the Senate of the urgent need
to 
'Close the Gap' on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, the
Senate today voted against taking the immediate steps required to
implement this commitment.

Over 80 000 ordinary Australians, including Ian Thorpe, Michael Long and
Cathy Freeman, have all signed on to the Close the Gap pledge within
recent weeks - but today both major parties refused to follow their
lead.

"With over 250 events Australia-wide today and thousands hitting the
streets in large events in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth Adelaide and
Brisbane both Mr Howard and Mr Rudd seem to be out of step," said
Senator Rachel Siewert, who put the pledge before the Senate today.

"Australia's lack of progress on Indigenous health is an international
disgrace." 

"It is simply not acceptable that a first world country like Australia
cannot fix a health crisis that affects only three percent of its
citizens," she said.
"We can close the 17 year gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians - all that is really
lacking is the political will."


The pledge reads:

We call on Australian governments to take action to achieve health
equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders within 25 years
through:
 
1. Increasing annual Indigenous health funding by $450 million to enable
equal access to health services 

2. Increasing Indigenous control and participation in the delivery of
health services 

3. Addressing critical social issues such as housing, education and
self-determination which contribute to the Indigenous health crisis 

	           
For more information or comment call 
Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025

Email senator.siewert at aph.gov.au
http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au

RESCUE THE SENATE


Senator Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia


Tuesday 18th September