Moved by Councillor Scott, seconded by
Councillor Weldon –
It is resolved that:
(A)
Council
note:
(i)
the
City of Sydney is keenly committed to Reconciliation and addressing the disproportionate
disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
(ii)
a
National Agreement on Closing the Gap has been developed to enable Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people and governments to work together to overcome
the inequality experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and
achieve life outcomes equal to all Australians;
(iii)
the
National Agreement requires each jurisdiction (state and territory) to have an
implementation plan in place to Close the Gap by July 2021;
(iv)
the NSW
Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) and NSW Government have been
developing a NSW Implementation Plan for Closing the Gap which is currently
Cabinet-in-confidence and not publicly available;
(v)
CAPO
have notified the City that they will conduct community consultations in our
local area for our community to provide input into the NSW Government’s Closing
the Gap Implementation Plan;
(vi)
councils
across Australia are highly engaged in the priority reform areas and
socio-economic targets referred to throughout the National Agreement on Closing
the Gap including early childhood care and development; social and emotional
wellbeing initiatives; housing, health, disability inclusion, social cohesion,
inclusion and anti-racism initiatives; prevention of family and domestic
violence and community infrastructures;
(vii)
local
government engagement will be crucial to ensuring the success of Closing the
Gap initiatives;
(viii)
all
councils have a role to play and should develop their own strategies to close
the gap;
(ix)
staff
have met with staff from the NSW Government Department of Aboriginal Affairs
who have advised that they will issue guidance to Local Government on their
proposed aims and methodology for Closing the Gap Strategy;
(x)
the
Closing the Gap Local Government Factsheet - Guidance for Local Councils is
available on the Department’s website and includes suggested actions/prompts
for meeting the targets of Closing the Gap’s five priority areas;
(xi)
on 27
July 2021 Council unanimously:
(a)
requested
the Chief Executive Officer to seek advice and comment on the development of a
Closing the Gap Strategy from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Advisory Panel; and
(b)
pending
advice received from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory
Panel, requested City staff consider a
Closing the Gap Strategy which builds on and links to the existing City Stretch
Reconciliation Action Plan, outlining how Council can contribute and is
contributing to the priority reform areas and socioeconomic targets in the National
Agreement for Closing the Gap as soon as practicable following appropriate
community consultation with local Aboriginal stakeholders and organisations;
(xii)
NSW
Aboriginal Affairs briefed the City’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Advisory Panel at their October 2021 meeting;
(xiii)
the
action arising out of this briefing and subsequent discussion was “Further
Closing the Gap consultation information will be provided to the Panel”;
(xiv)
draft
priority reform areas and socioeconomic targets to Close the Gap that the
Council is already taking, and will contribute in future, have been added to
the City’s draft Community Strategic Plan: Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050 to be
considered by Council by June 2022; and
(xv)
the
City will undertake a stocktake of partnerships between the City and Aboriginal
community and stakeholders, and provide this to the Closing the Gap team at NSW
Aboriginal Affairs by March; and
(B)
alongside
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel, the Chief Executive
Officer be requested develop a Closing the Gap Strategy for Council endorsement
as part of the City’s 2022 Community Strategic Plan to:
(i)
outline
how Council can contribute and is contributing to the priority reform areas and
socioeconomic targets in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap;
(ii)
consult
on the Closing the Gap actions that will form part of the Community Strategic
Plan during the public exhibition period for the Community Strategic Plan;
(iii)
consult
on the Closing the Gap actions that will form part of the Community Strategic
Plan with local Aboriginal stakeholders and organisations; and
(iv)
continue
to advocate to the NSW Government to allow the City to increase Indigenous
employment and procurement, and include targets the City could meet if
supported to by the NSW Government.
Carried unanimously.
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