[Greens-Media] Media Release: Auditor General report shows much more to be done on Closing the Gap

[Jan Barham]

Jan Barham MLC
Media Release
18 May 2011

Auditor General report shows much more to be done on Closing the Gap

Greens spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs Jan Barham MLC is looking forward to discussing the recommendations of the Auditor-General's Report into the Two Ways Together Plan with Aboriginal communities and peak groups and working out how local communities can more effectively close the gap on Aboriginal disadvantage.  
 
"The Auditor General's report does highlight some good trends in TAFE enrolment targets. However, targets relating to employment, Year 12 retention rates and imprisonment rates remain off track. The report recommendations, if fully implemented, may improve transparency in government expenditure programs and program accountability at the department level," says Ms Barham 
 
"An important positive we should take away from the report is the promising development of the Two Ways Together Partnership Community Programs. The community governance bodies are demonstrating that local community level engagement and consultation are the best way to plan service delivery."     
 
"The NSW Government needs to deliver greater investment in skills development and training for those working in community partnership bodies. Aboriginal People involved with community partnership bodies are trying to deliver real, on the ground outcomes for their communities and their work could be made much more effective with real government investment and partnership. I strongly support the recommendation of the Auditor General to ensure government agencies comply with the requirement to work with these bodies and that Government agency heads have cultural competency training." 
    
"In providing greater investment into the Two Ways Together Partnership Community Programs we should note that the report highlights per capita expenditure in NSW on services delivered to Aboriginal communities was the second lowest in Australia for the budget year 2008-09. 
 
"Department of Premier and Cabinet have argued that there is no under-investment and that it delivers a level of service to Aboriginal communities comparable with other States. When we look at Victorian and ACT per capita expenditure these arguments don't necessarily hold sway. I support the recommendation of the Auditor General to appoint independent advisors and would suggest they be tasked with examining comparative service delivery levels between the States. Investment in closing the gap and empowering Aboriginal communities in NSW requires a broader discussion of the delivery of outcomes in both urban and rural communities."      
 
To access the report visit http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/publications/reports/performance/2011/two_ways_together/two_ways_contents.htm 
                                                                                                                     
Further Information:  Jan Barham 0407 065 061