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Lidia Thorpe: ‘We need to scrap Closing the Gap’
Feb 12, 2025
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, a fierce advocate for Indigenous rights, challenges the effectiveness of the Closing the Gap strategy, calling it a distraction. She highlights alarming trends, like rising child removals and high suicide rates among Indigenous peoples, questioning the government's commitment to real change. Thorpe argues for stronger federal responsibilities in youth justice and the introduction of a Human Rights Act. She emphasizes the need for genuine community engagement and self-determination, pushing for legislation that respects Indigenous rights.
15:21
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Quick takeaways
- Senator Lidia Thorpe argues that the inadequate government approach and funding merely distract from the urgent need for genuine reform in Indigenous communities.
- Thorpe advocates for the abolition of the Closing the Gap framework and the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to ensure real empowerment and self-determination for Indigenous Australians.
Deep dives
Escalating Crises in Indigenous Communities
The situation in Indigenous Australian communities continues to deteriorate, with increasing rates of child removals, incarceration, and suicide. An alarming 24,000 Indigenous children have been taken from their families, reflecting a systemic failure to address these urgent issues. Senator Lydia Thorpe emphasizes that the government's approach is inadequate and dismissive, viewing their efforts as mere distractions that fail to deliver meaningful change. The persistent high rates of suicide among young Indigenous people highlight a crisis of hopelessness that is left unaddressed by policymakers.
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