Close the Gap - Better Health for Indigenous Australians

Media Release, 18 September 2007

“The gap between health outcomes for Indigenous and other Australians is a national disgrace,” said Greens MLC, Giz Watson.

Speaking at the Close the Gap Campaign event at Parliament House today she said: “I am delighted to support and participate in Oxfam’s ‘Close the Gap Campaign’”.

“It is unacceptable that Aboriginal life expectancy is 17 years less than other Australians and that their infant mortality rate is three times higher”, she said.

Oxfam and Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation have been campaigning to raise awareness about the gap between health outcomes for Indigenous and other Australians.

“It is not just a matter of throwing more money at the existing system. Government’s must look at the underlying social determinants of this health crisis and address the whole problem”.

Ms Watson called on the State Government to respond to a recent Aboriginal Primary Heath Plan prepared by WA Indigenous Leaders that is calling for a whole of Government approach, which embraces the health problems with respect, and incorporates aboriginal culture and values as the underlying principles of any health policy.