Chair Ian West
MLC said, “The scope of the Committee’s inquiry is very challenging and far
reaching. The Committee will consider the impact of health, education,
employment and housing on Indigenous disadvantage.”
“The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that, based on
available data, in 2005 the estimated Indigenous life expectancy is 59 years
for males and 65 years for females. This is about 17 years below life
expectancy for all males and females respectively.”
Mr West continued, “The inquiry terms of reference ask us
to look at the policies and programs operating in New South Wales and Australia
that are aimed at closing the acute life expectancy gap, as well as successful
programs internationally, for example in New Zealand, Canada and North and
South America.”
“The Committee will also investigate opportunities for
strengthening cultural resilience within Indigenous communities, focusing on
language, cultural identity and self determination.”
“Importantly, as part of its inquiry, the Committee will
assess the Government’s progress in implementing recommendations from previous
Social Issues Committee reports” Mr West said.
Mr West said, “On behalf of the Committee I’d like to
encourage interested people and organisations to contribute to this very important
inquiry.”
The Committee is to produce an interim report by 30 June
2008 and a final report by 30 November 2008.
For further information, including how to make a
submission to this inquiry and copies of the terms of reference, please contact
the Committee secretariat on 02 9230 3078 or via email to socialissues@parliament.nsw.gov.au
. It is also possible to lodge a submission via the NSW Parliament website at www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/socialissues
. The closing date for submissions is 30
November 2007. For further comment please contact Ian West MLC, Committee Chair, on 9230 2126.
INQUIRY
INTO CLOSING THE GAP – OVERCOMING INDIGENOUS DISADVANTAGE
Terms
of Reference
1.
That the Standing Committee on Social Issues inquire into and report on:
(a) policies and programs being implemented both
within Australia (States/Territories/Federal) and internationally aimed at
closing the gap between the lifetime expectancy between Aboriginal people and
non-Aboriginal people (currently estimated at 17 years), with the assessment of
policies and programs including but not limited to: New Zealand, Canada, North
America, South America, and also considering available reports and information
from key NGOs and community organizations,
(b) the impact of the following factors on the
current lifetime expectancy gap:
(i) environmental health (water, sewerage,
waste, other)
(ii) health and wellbeing
(iii) education
(iv) employment
(v) housing
(vi) incarceration and the criminal justice
system
(vii) other infrastructure,
(c) previous Social Issues committee reports
containing reference to Aboriginal people – and assess the progress of
government in implementing adopted report recommendations,
(d) the Federal Government intervention in the
Northern Territory and advise on potential programs/initiatives that may or may
not have relevance in terms of their application in New South Wales,
(e) opportunities for strengthening cultural
resilience within Aboriginal communities in New South Wales with a focus on
language, cultural identity, economic development and self determination, and
(f) the experiences of the outcomes of the COAG
Murdi Paaki trial but also take into account the other COAG trials occurring
across Australia
and their outcomes/lessons learned.
2.
That the Committee provide an interim report to the House by Monday 30 June
2008.
3. That the Committee provide a final report to
the House by Friday 28 November 2008.