BUDGET 2021: NO FUNDING FOR CLOSING THE GAP

In an extraordinary omission, no new funding for Closing the Gap has been included in the Morrison Government’s budget.

The Prime Minister described Closing the Gap as “the ultimate test of our efforts”.

As the Federal Budget is the nation’s primary financial document, so it is just perplexing that funding for Closing the Gap would be omitted. 

The Government cannot use the refresh of the targets as a pretext for a non-commitment on funding.

The Government has a track record of not delivering.

Four of the seven now expired targets were not met.

The Prime Minister said of Closing the Gap that his government was “making that commitment real".

Australians are right to ask - just what is this government’s commitment to Closing the Gap?

And why has it been omitted from the nation’s primary financial document?

If we want to see real progress on this critical national effort, we need to see it backed by a genuine commitment and adequate funding from this government.