The New South Wales Auditor-General’s Report, a performance audit, was released today – a timely reminder of the Agreement on Closing the Gap, during Reconciliation Week.
The report, number #407, assessed the effectiveness of the governance arrangements for the implementation of the 2020 National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the National Agreement) in NSW. The report showed that there are still several problems with the implementaion of the Agreement.
Overcoming entrenched inequality
The stated objective of the National Agreement is to overcome entrenched inequality faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is an agreement between all Australian governments.
The implementation of the National Agreement in NSW is led by the Premier’s Department and the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peaks (NSW CAPO). NSW CAPO is a group of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations that advocate for the rights and wellbeing of Aboriginal people in NSW.
The findings of the report highlighted that the governance arrangements are not operating effectively. The report said: ‘Formal shared governance bodies have been established, but the governance structure does not provide clear accountability for the delivery of National Agreement initiatives or drive the behaviours needed to achieve the National Agreement’s stated outcomes.’
The report goes on to say that the Premier’s Department and NSW CAPO agreed to work together to implement the National Agreement, but they have not formed a genuine partnership.
The recommendations coming out of the audit are to:
Increase the accountability of NSW Government agencies for implementing the Priority Reforms of the National Agreement; ensure the Premier’s Department and NSW CAPO are working in genuine partnership; improve the planning and oversight of the implementation of the National Agreement in NSW; and, improve the transparency of NSW CAPO’s work conducted under the National Agreement.
You can read the full report here.
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