Is Closing the Gap making a change?

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AI produced video, all facts gathered from AI

At 6.1% of total direct general government expenditure, it is more than spent on defence (6%), infrastructure and transport (5%) and slightly less than what is spent on education (7%)

The Closing the Gap initiative has had mixed results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with significant disparities remaining in various areas:


- **Government Costs**:


Based on the search results, here are the key points about Australian government spending on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples:

Total direct expenditure on services for Indigenous Australians in 2012-13 was estimated to be $30.3 billion, accounting for 6.1% of total direct general government expenditure.

Estimated expenditure per person in 2012-13 was forty three thousand, four hundred and fifty for Indigenous Australians, compared with twenty thousand, nine hundred dollars  for other Australians (a ratio of 2.08 to 1).


- **Workforce Participation**:

The unemployment rate for Indigenous Australians aged 15-64 increased from 53% in 2016 to 48% in 2021, according to Census data. However, this rate remains significantly lower than the unemployment rate for non-Indigenous Australians, which was around 25% in 2018.

Some key points:

There are significant regional differences. In 2021, the Indigenous unemployment rate was lowest in major cities at 42% and highest in very remote areas at 68%.

The Northern Territory had the highest Indigenous unemployment rate at 69%, while the Australian Capital Territory had the lowest at 31%.

Progress in closing the employment gap has been slow. At current rates, it's estimated it could take 100 years and billions more  to close the gap completely.




Indigenous Australians have significantly higher rates of involvement in crime, particularly homicide, compared to non-Indigenous Australians. Here are the key points:


Homicide rates:


Indigenous Australians have consistently recorded higher rates of homicide victimization and offending compared to non-Indigenous Australians.

In 2011-12, Indigenous people comprised 3% of the Australian population but constituted 13% of homicide victims and 11% of homicide offenders.

The rate of both victimization and offending by Indigenous people was approximately five times higher than that of non-Indigenous Australians.


Geographical distribution:


Indigenous homicides were more likely to occur in rural locations (46%) compared to non-Indigenous homicides.

In the Northern Territory, where Indigenous persons account for about 29% of the population, 63.6% of homicides occurred between Indigenous persons.


Alcohol involvement:


70% of Indigenous homicides involved alcohol use by both victims and offenders, compared to 22% for non-Indigenous homicides.


Age and gender:


In 2017-18, over a third of Indigenous offenders were aged under 25 years in several states and territories.


5 - Repeat offending:

In some jurisdictions, about half of Indigenous offenders were proceeded against more than once in a year, indicating higher rates of repeat offending.


If one is to assess unemployment and incarceration rates, closing the gap has really done little to help Indigenous Australia. At 6.1% of total direct general government expenditure, it is more than spent on defence (6%), infrastructure and transport (5%) and slightly less than what is spent on education (7%)




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