National Close the Gap Day

The majority voted against a motion to achieve health equality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians within 25 years, which means the motion failed.

Motion text

That the Senate:

(a) notes that Tuesday, 18 September 2007 is National Close the Gap Day, a day on which Australians across the nation are coming together to show their support for closing the 17-year life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians; and

(b) calls on all federal, state and territory governments to take action to achieve health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders within 25 years by:

(i) increasing annual Indigenous health funding by $450 million to enable equal access to health services,

(ii) increasing Indigenous control and participation in the delivery of health services, and

(iii) addressing critical social issues, such as housing, education and self-determination, which contribute to the Indigenous health crisis.