Policy Focus: Closing the Gap
Following the introduction of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in 2020, local governments have been formally recognised as partners in addressing systemic disadvantage faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.
Councils across Australia are increasingly taking more proactive steps to align their service delivery, governance, and community engagement approaches with the Closing the Gap (CtG) commitments.
The National Agreement – which ALGA is a proud signatory – outlines four key priority reforms:
- Shared decision-making
- Building the community-controlled sector
- Transforming government organisations
- Improving data and access to information.
Each of these areas has implications for local government, especially for councils delivering aged care, childcare, youth programs, and broader social services.
For local governments, governance transformation is essential to help meet the national CtG targets. The 2025 Independent Review emphasised genuine change requires shifting power and resources, and not just adopting symbolic gestures.
Councils can embed cultural safety in decision-making, workforce planning, and frontline service delivery.
How can councils support this pathway?
Local governments can begin by assessing the opportunities they have through Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) or embedding better cultural practices, including to:
- Embed CtG principles into corporate strategy
- Create operational RAPs
- Appoint Aboriginal Liaison Officers and build workforce capability
- Review procurement, employment, and service delivery for cultural safety
- Establish advisory groups and co-design partnerships, and
- Invest in community data collection and impact evaluation.
ALGA’s advocacy role
Local governments can play an important role in helping to Close the Gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
ALGA will continue to advocate for local governments, and increased opportunities for our member associations, including to:
- Advocate for funding streams tailored to local governments’ CtG roles
- Support knowledge exchange and case study libraries
- Champion local government voices in the CtG Joint Council, and
- Work with state/territory LGAs to integrate councils into jurisdictional implementation plans.
We are committed to shared decision-making at a local level.
With committed leadership, sustainable funding, and partnerships based on respect and cultural authority, local governments can be at the heart of Closing the Gap in the future.
For more information, click here.
Resources