Since becoming Chief Minister, I have emphasised that my first commitment is to promoting the interests of families across the whole of the Northern Territory. Healthy, well educated, productive families are the foundation of prosperity for us all.

Long term, sustained commitments from government are an absolute necessity to overcome the stark economic and social problems experienced by Indigenous Territorians. It is for this reason that my government is committed to the program of Closing the gap of Indigenous disadvantage.

It is a generational plan of action, recognising that the disadvantage faced by Indigenous Territorians cannot be solved overnight. We must aim for the children being born in the next few years—the next generation of Indigenous Territorians—to live healthy lives from their earliest years if they are to take advantage of going to school, getting good and satisfying jobs, and raising families themselves.

It is the greatest social task facing all Territorians, and we require measurable results to be achieved at five, ten and 20 year intervals.

In the first five years of Closing the Gap, the Northern Territory Government is to spend $286 million for new programs in health, family services, education and community safety—the largest commitment to reducing Indigenous disadvantage in the Territory’s history.

More importantly, Closing the Gap is now the business of all the government agencies. All new programs will now be assessed in light of the contribution they can make to the historic task of Closing the Gap.

In addition, we are working strongly with the Federal Government in Canberra which also recognises the need for long term programs which go beyond the electoral cycle.

In housing, it means we are working together with the Federal Government on a dramatic boost to Indigenous housing. In partnership with the land councils, we are reaching agreements on leasing tenures that will lead to $790 million targeted to key towns and communities in the Territory.

In education it means we are working towards activating the Federal Government’s commitments to 200 additional teachers for our regional and remote schools—as well as its broader commitment to supplying quality early childhood schooling for all Australian children by the age of four.

It will require determination from all of us to achieve the objective of Closing the Gap. Most importantly, it will come from Indigenous Territorians themselves who, for so long, have been calling for the actions we are now taking.

Paul Henderson
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory