Funding locked in for Closing the Gap Refresh

12 November 2020

Roger Jaensch MP

2020-21 Budget: Funding locked in for Closing the Gap Refresh

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is investing in our community and continuing to take action to improve outcomes for Tasmania’s Aboriginal people.

The 2020-21 State Budget includes funding of $1.2 million across the Forward Estimates for the Closing the Gap Refresh initiative.

The funding is part of Tasmania’s contribution to the national funding pool to build the capacity of Aboriginal community controlled organisations to deliver services that result in better outcomes for Aboriginal people.

The funding follows the historic signing of the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap earlier this year, which builds upon the important work the Tasmanian Government has done in resetting the relationship with Tasmanian Aboriginal communities.

This is in addition to practical measures already underway, including:

• Locked-in funding to support our Reset agenda;
• Ongoing funding to enable the Cultural Management Group to continue its work with non-government Aboriginal organisations and other stakeholders on the management of cultural values;
• A program for Aboriginal Tasmanians to access important resources within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area; and
• Aboriginal Trainee Rangers to work in our national parks and reserves.

Other measures taken by the Government to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people in Tasmania include projects addressing family violence, early childhood engagement with schools, support for Aboriginal enterprises such as the wukalina Cultural Walk, and investment in recruiting Aboriginal people to the Tasmanian State Service.

The 2020-21 Budget provides the certainty and confidence our community needs and we will continue to work with Aboriginal community organisations to deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal people.