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Olympians call to Close the Gap between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Health

Close the Gap campaign launch Olympic stadium, Sydney 4th April 2007

Ian Thorpe signs the Close the Gap pledge

Cathy Freeman among the sea of hands, Olympic stadium

Tom Calma, Social Justice Commisssioner speaking at the launch

4 April 2007 - HREOC Media Release - Olympic greats Catherine Freeman and Ian Thorpe have thrown their weight behind a major campaign launched in Sydney today which aims to close the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

The former Olympians launched an online version of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation’s (ANTaR) Sea of Hands at Telstra Stadium this morning in a bid to get millions of Australians behind the Close the Gap campaign.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma, said the campaign urged Australians to join more than 40 Indigenous and non-Indigenous national health peak body and human rights organisations which are pushing for government commitment by the end of the year to fixing the tragedy of Indigenous health.

“It is a national scandal that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live 17 years less than other Australians and that our babies die at almost three times the rate of non-Indigenous children,” Commissioner Calma said.

“It is not acceptable for governments to continually state the situation is tragic and ought to be treated with urgency and then fail to put in place targets, funding and timeframes to address the issue.

“I said in my 2005 Social Justice Report that achieving equality in life expectancy rates for Indigenous people within 25 years is an achievable goal. Equal access to primary health care and infrastructure for Indigenous Peoples is achievable within 10 years. These aren’t fanciful targets – we have evidence that these goals are achievable in these timeframes.

“Close the Gap is not just a government-centred campaign - the non-government sector and Indigenous communities must continue to work together in partnership.

“Federal, state and territory governments must adopt deadlines now for ending Indigenous health inequality,” Mr Calma said.

ANTaR’s virtual Sea of Hands will allow people to upload a hand with their details on a website and at the same time send a personalised message to local politicians asking them to commit to Commissioner Calma’s deadlines. As more people join the campaign, the Sea of Hands will increase in size and intensity with hundreds of thousands of people signing up to the virtual Sea of Hands to urge governments to take action on Indigenous health.

Also joining Catherine and Ian in launching the campaign is broadcaster Jeff McMullen and Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Henry Councillor.

“The Close the Gap campaign on the life expectancy of Aboriginal people is the single most urgent campaign ever conducted in Australia. It’s about justice and decency and a fair go for all.

“It’s about what it means to be a human being living in health and dignity with a strong future and a full life to live for,” Mr Councillor said.

“Aboriginal people visit too many hospitals and we go to far too many funerals. We’re sick of being sick. We want to see our grand-children grow up to be adults.

“That Aboriginal health has languished so terribly and for so long is a cause of national shame, yet this campaign gives governments and millions of non-Aboriginal people the focus and the opportunity to help fix things up.

“NACCHO and our 140 community controlled health services across Australia are right behind this campaign. We do so with enthusiasm and hope and we invite all Australians to join us, in any way they can.”

Media contact: Louise McDermott HREOC, 0419 258 597 Gary Highland, ANTaR, 0418 476 940

Source: HREOC

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