Member for Maitland, Jenny Aitchison, has called on the NSW Government to do more for Indigenous people across the state to ensure the goals of the Federal Government’s ‘Closing the Gap’ report are met in a timely fashion.

Ms Aitchison lodged the following Notice of Motion in the Legislative Assembly this week:

I give notice that on the next sitting day I will move that this House:

1. Notes that the Federal Government’s ‘Closing the Gap’ report outlines several failings in ongoing work to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

2. Notes that life expectancy, employment, reading & writing and school attendance are all ‘not on track’, and all of these criteria are influenced heavily by State Government policy.

3. Calls on the Baird Government to do more for Indigenous people in New South Wales to ensure that the goals of the ‘Closing the Gap’ report are met in a timely fashion.

Ms Aitchison will be convening a Maitland Aboriginal Roundtable with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Linda Burney, on Saturday.

“The Indigenous population in Maitland face similar issues and difficulties as those experienced by Aboriginal people across the state”.

“Issues like education attainment, employment, financial disadvantage and health are key factors that need to be addressed.”

The roundtable will bring together key stakeholders in the Aboriginal community to identify strategies that are working well and potential gaps in service provision.

Any Aboriginal leaders and service providers who wish to make a contribution to the roundtable are encouraged to contact Ms Aitchison’s office by calling 4933 1617.