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.

For more information, please visit the national Closing the Gap website.

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.

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 (PDF). 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:

• Queensland Closing the Gap Annual Report 2022 (PDF, 1.9 MB)
• Queensland Closing the Gap Snapshot Report 2022 (PDF, 7.6 MB)

Previous progress reports include a 2018 snapshot and full report and a 2019 snapshot and comprehensive report.

Queensland's 2022 Closing the Gap Implementation Plan

Queensland's 2022 Closing the Gap Implementation Plan (PDF, 2.4 MB) and Attachment (PDF, 2.6 MB) documents 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.

Queensland’s first Implementation Plan was released in August 2021 and provided the baseline for activities across government to implement the National Agreement.

Based on feedback by the National Coalition of Peaks and the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coalition, the 2022 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 2022 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.

Queensland's Closing the Gap 2022 Stocktake of Partnership Arrangements

Queensland's Closing the Gap 2022 Stocktake of Partnership Arrangements (PDF, 1.8 MB) 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 of Partnership Arrangements 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.

Previous reports

• 2021 Closing the Gap Implementation Plan (PDF, 1.7 MB) 2021 Closing the Gap Implementation Plan (DOCX, 4.4 MB)
• 2021 Closing the Gap Implementation Plan: Attachment (PDF, 1.8 MB) 2021 Closing the Gap Implementation Plan: Attachment (DOCX, 616 KB)
• 2019 Closing the Gap Report Card (Comprehensive) (PDF, 2.4 MB)
• 2019 Closing the Gap Snapshot Report (PDF, 5.9 MB)
• 2018 Closing the Gap Full Report (PDF, 1.9 MB)
• 2018 Closing the Gap Snapshot Report (PDF, 2.2 MB)