Closing the Gap

About Closing the Gap

Closing the Gap aims to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians by ensuring we work in partnership with First Nations Australians to deliver change.

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap was launched on 30 July 2020. This is the first time a National Agreement has been developed and negotiated in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Agreement recognises that a shift in how we develop and implement government policies and programs is required for significant improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' life outcomes to be achieved.

Queensland’s role in Closing the Gap

Queensland is home to the nation's second-largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. The Queensland Government is working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through their representatives, at the national, state and local level, to ensure a focus on achieving long-term social and economic outcomes for Queensland’s First Nations peoples.

Underpinned by the Path to Treaty and Local Thriving Communities reforms, the Queensland Government is committed to reframing the relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders, working to address historical and ongoing economic and social injustices, and recognising First Nations peoples’ sovereignty and right to self-determination.

Understanding the National Agreement

A range of resources have been developed to better understand the National Agreement, and how it was developed.

Under Priority Reform Four – Sharing data and information to support decision making, the Queensland Closing the Gap Snapshot Report 2023 (PDF, 1.7 MB) has been designed in a way that provides visual presentation of data that is informative, accessible and easy to understand, so that First Nations Queenslander’s can consider what is happening at a local context, to make decisions about their futures.

Visit www.closingthegap.gov.au/resources for key resources, reports and marketing materials.

Queensland's progress on Closing the Gap

At the national level, all jurisdictions are held accountable for progress on Priority Reforms and Targets through the Productivity Commission’s Closing the Gap national data dashboard and Annual Data Compilation Report. Jurisdictions are held accountable for progress on delivering on the commitments in the National Agreement through an Implementation Tracker.

The Queensland Government recently released the:

Further detail on our reports can be found below.

Annual Report

The Queensland Government Closing the Gap Annual Report 2023 (PDF, 1.4 MB) Queensland Government Closing the Gap Annual Report 2023 (DOCX, 860 KB) is an important marker of Queensland’s progress in meeting our commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The Queensland Government is entering the third year of implementation of the National Agreement, a 10-year agreement between Australian governments and the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations to improve life outcomes for Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples that are equal to those of all Australians.

This year’s report considers:

  • ongoing significant, structural reforms that underpin how we share decision-making with Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • partnership actions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities
  • progress against Priority Reforms, highlighting case studies addressing the Priority Reforms and outlining next steps
  • analysis of baseline and historical data for each of the Targets, and measuring progress against the baseline for Targets.

Snapshot Report

The Queensland Closing the Gap Snapshot Report 2023 (PDF, 1.7 MB) provides an overview of data collated that measures the progress against nineteen socioeconomic outcome areas under the National Agreement.

The report also identifies outcome areas where more effort is needed to meet the targets in Queensland and drive transformative change in partnership with First Nations peoples.

This year’s report shows we are making positive change in early childhood education, healthy birthweight, employment, land and waters. Below are some brief statistics:

  • two years ahead of schedule to create more opportunities in early childhood education
  • over 95 per cent engagement in high quality, culturally appropriate early childhood education
  • on track to meet the targets for strong, healthy babies, with nine in 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies born with a healthy birthweight
  • on track to meet the targets for employment with 57.2 per cent of people aged 25-64 employed
  • 33 per cent or 570,423 square kilometres of landmass and 20.3 per cent or 24,829 square kilometres of sea Country had been handed back to Traditional Owners, up from 30.7 per cent and 19.7 per cent respectively.

Implementation Plan

The Queensland Closing the Gap Implementation Plan 2023 (PDF, 2.2 MB) Queensland Closing the Gap Implementation Plan 2023 (DOCX, 1.4 MB) details how the Queensland Government is working to address the Priority Reforms and socio-economic targets in the National Agreement, and how our progress will be evaluated.

The Implementation Plan reflects the Queensland context, and what we have heard from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about their ambitions for their lives and communities.

Based on feedback by the National Coalition of Peaks and the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coalition, the Implementation Plan gives greater focus to developing partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, embedding the Priority Reforms and highlighting the interrelationships between the current 17 socio-economic targets.

The Implementation Plan also highlights a number of initiatives and partnerships underway to drive improvement across priority areas, and documents the ongoing significant structural reforms the government is implementing to change how we share decision-making with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Stocktake of Partnership Arrangements

The Queensland Closing the Gap Partnership Stocktake 2023 (PDF, 1.6 MB) Queensland Closing the Gap Partnership Stocktake 2023 (DOCX, 924 KB) was undertaken across government to provide a baseline of our partnerships in terms of strong partnership elements, as required under Clause 32 of the National Agreement.

The Stocktake provides an overview of how the Queensland Government is progressing with the priority reform of strengthening and establishing formal partnerships and shared decision making with First Nations peoples.

The Stocktake highlights the strong partnerships that have been developed and implemented across government so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations have a direct say in how policy and programs are developed.

Governance Framework

The Queensland Government is working with First Nations partners on Queensland’s Closing the Gap governance arrangements to elevate the focus, to coordinate our efforts and shared decision-making, and to enhance accountability.

A draft Governance Framework has been developed for further engagement with First Nations organisations and partners, including the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coalition, with a focus on whole-of-government, cross-portfolio collaboration that will position Queensland to effectively contribute to Closing the Gap.

The draft Governance Framework seeks to integrate existing First Nations governance groups and networks into a partnership approach that reflects the four Priority Reforms and 19 socio-economic targets outlined in the National Agreement.

Previous reports

Annual reports

Snapshot reports

Implementation plans

Stocktake of Partnership Arrangements