ClosingtheGap-areas where progress has not been satisfactory

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Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell tabled the Victorian Government Indigenous Affairs Report 2009-10 in Parliament today.

The report reviews the performance of the previous government in relation to Aboriginal affairs.

"In line with its commitment to Closing the Gap, the Victorian Coalition Government will be reviewing the Victorian Indigenous Affairs Framework to address those areas where progress has not been satisfactory," Mrs Powell said.

"Smoking rates among indigenous Victorians are 13.8 per cent higher than among non-indigenous Victorians and this is certainly an area where this Government wants to see improvement.

"The report also shows that indigenous Victorian children are over-represented in the child protection system. The Coalition Government is committed to protecting the most vulnerable in our society and reducing the number of children at risk, and our inquiry into vulnerable children will provide us with important information to guide the direction and actions we can take to provide for safer and stronger families.

"In welcome news the report also indicates there has been a steady increase in the participation of indigenous Victorians in education, particularly pre-school, primary and secondary education.

"However the retention rate to Year 10 for indigenous students needs improvement and we will work with industry and community groups to encourage indigenous students to stay in school or training programs," Mrs Powell said.

In March 2011 Premier Ted Baillieu re-committed the Victorian Government to Closing the Gap in indigenous disadvantage and identified four guiding principles to inform Aboriginal Affairs policy.

These principles are Aspirations for the Future; Accountability; Engagement and Inclusiveness; and Partnership as a Whole of Community Approach.

The Victorian Indigenous Affairs Framework focuses on the long-term and strategic efforts required to improve the health, life expectancy and quality of life of indigenous people and will be reviewed in line with the guiding principles.

Currently the six strategic areas of the framework are:

* Improvement of maternal and early childhood health and development
* Improvement of education outcomes
* Improvement of economic development, settle native title claims and address land access issues
* Improvement of health and wellbeing
* Building indigenous capacity, and
* Prevention of family violence and improvement of justice outcomes.

In March this year, the Premier announced that in the interests of accountability and transparency, the Coalition Government would continue the practice of releasing an annual Aboriginal Affairs Report that identifies targets and indicates how Victoria is progressing against those targets.

This revised report will be consistent with the outcomes of the review of the Victorian Indigenous Affairs Framework and will be tabled in Parliament at around the same time as the Prime Minister's Closing the Gap report.

"Future reports will give an informed Victorian perspective and remind all Australians that some of the greatest challenges in Closing the Gap are in our urban and regional areas, and not just in remote locations in Australia," Mrs Powell said.

The Victorian Government Indigenous Affairs Report 2009 – 2010 is available online at www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/indigenous