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Malcolm Turnbull handed blueprint for resetting Indigenous relations

Indigenous leaders have delivered Malcolm Turnbull a blueprint for resetting government relations and curbing disadvantage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people.

The Prime Minister was presented the Redfern Statement at Parliament House on Tuesday morning, as he prepares to present a progress report on efforts to improve the plight of indigenous Australians.

“Your vision and the call to action of the signatories of the Redfern Statement aligns with the government’s commitment to do things with indigenous Australians – not do things to them,” Mr Turnbull said.

“As we work together as a nation – all levels of government – to renew the Closing the Gaps targets, input from the Redfern Statement alliance will be critically important.”

The statement – backed by more than 30 organisations – calls for dozens of changes across health, justice, disability, education and family violence based on genuine engagement with indigenous communities.

It urges the reversal of federal budget cuts, targets to reduce incarceration rates and family violence, and the establishment of a stand alone department for indigenous affairs.

Mr Turnbull later on Tuesday will hand down the annual Close the Gap report, which is expected to show mixed progress in key areas such as health, education and employment.

It is tipped to show a decline in infant mortality rates, reduced rates of smoking, improved life expectancy and fewer deaths from chronic diseases.

It’s also expected to show improving literacy and numeracy skills in indigenous children.

Ahead of its release, former prime minister Kevin Rudd warned of the potential for a second Stolen Generation as numbers of indigenous children in out-of-home care continues to rise.

Monday marked nine years since Mr Rudd’s national apology to the Stolen Generation.

Mr Rudd believes there’s scope to add a new Close the Gap target to ensure children are placed with other relatives or in their communities.

He was presented with a boomerang from indigenous leaders. 

Kevin Rudd apologises to Stolen Generation

Kevin Rudd delivered the apology to the stolen generation on February 13, 2008. Photo: AAP

Elsewhere, former prime minister Tony Abbott expressed disappointment Mr Turnbull had not continued his tradition of spending a week each year in remote indigenous communities.

Close the Gap targets:

  • To close the life expectancy gap within a generation.
  • To halve the gap in child mortality by 2018.
  • To ensure access to early childhood education for all indigenous four year olds in remote communities by 2025.
  • To halve the gap in reading, writing and numeracy achievements for children by 2018.
  • To halve the gap for indigenous students in year 12 attainment rates by 2020.
  • To close the gap in school attendance by the end of 2018.
  • To halve the gap in employment outcomes by 2018.
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