Pugin, Madeline, and Stanford, Bartholomew (2025) Progress on Closing the Gap is stagnant or going backwards. Here are 3 things to help fix it. The Conversation, 31 July 2025.

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Abstract

The Productivity Commission’s latest data on Closing the Gap progress represents an unsurprisingly grim overview of the socioeconomic inequalities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Closing the Gap is the plan federal and state governments have to address Indigenous socioeconomic disadvantage. It sets specific targets across a range of areas.

This edition annual data report paints a concerning picture of Indigenous peoples’ quality of life across the states and territories. Despite 17 years of Closing the Gap policy, First Nations communities continue to face significant disadvantage. Of the 19 targets, 16 have been assessed, with four targets worsening. They are:

adult imprisonment

children in out-of-home care

suicide

children developmentally on track.

Item ID:	92069
Item Type:	Article (Commentary)
ISSN:	2201-5639
Keywords:	Australian Politics, Public Policy, Closing the Gap, Society. Indigenous Peoples, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, First Nations, Indigenous Law, Voice to Parliament Referendum, Australian Public Policy
Copyright Information:	© The Conversation Media Group Ltd 2025. Licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
Date Deposited:	27 May 2026 02:47
FoR Codes:	45 INDIGENOUS STUDIES > 4505 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, society and community > 450521 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander politics @ 50% 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4408 Political science > 440801 Australian government and politics @ 50%
SEO Codes:	21 INDIGENOUS > 2104 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and culture > 210404 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge @ 50% 23 LAW, POLITICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES > 2302 Government and politics > 230203 Political systems @ 50%
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