Australia failing to reduce disadvantages of indigenous community, increase noted in suicide rates

Canberra, July 31 -- Australia is failing to reduce the disadvantages faced by its Indigenous population, with only four out of 19 targets to do so on track to be met, according to a government report.

The Productivity Commission (PC), the federal government's top review and advisory body on economic, social and environmental issues affecting the welfare of Australians, on Thursday released its annual report on the national strategy to reduce Indigenous disadvantage.

Established in 2008 and overhauled in 2020, the Closing the Gap framework aims to reduce the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in 19 areas relating to health, education and economic outcomes.

The latest update shows that only four out of th...