labor party recommits to closing indigenous gap

The federal Labor Party has recommitted itself to a National Partnership Agreement on closing the gap between the health of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Funding for health services and programs under this agreement was set to expire in June.

Labor says if re-elected in September's federal election, it would continue funding for a further three years.

But Indigenous groups are still concerned the states and territories may abandon the agreement, as the Council of Australian Governments meets in Canberra.

Ildi Amon reports.

The federal Labor government is promising over 700 million dollars until June 2016 for programs aimed at closing the Indigenous health gap.

This would represent a slight increase on the annual contributions the federal government has made over the past four years.

Justin Mohamed, from the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, is calling on state and territory governments to announce their continued funding support.

"This is vital that we get this right. And we've got to understand that the federal money that has come in is part of the solution, it's part of the funding. And it's not complete until the state and territory governments commit their share or their component. And so it is vital they do come on board and they commit and similar to what they did four years ago they invest into closing the gap."

Under the National Partnership agreement, services such as mental health, chronic disease and quit smoking programs are provided.

And Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda says changes to funding would jeopardise improvements in Indigenous health outcomes.

"Things like birth weights of babies are going up, the infant mortality rate is dropping - those are very good indicators of the futures for our kids. If we don't have a recommitment to this program - the strategy of closing the gap - we stand the possibility of losing all those gains we're starting to make."

Federal opposition leader Tony Abbott says he welcomes efforts to close the gap, but healthcare is just one part of the solution.

"I think it's very important to close the gap but if we are fair dinkum (genuine) about closing the gap, it's not just better health services, it's better education, it's better employment, it's better housing because in the end, socio economic status rather than indigenous status is the principal indicator for poor health."

The National Partnership Agreement sets a target of closing the gap in areas such as life expectancy and infant mortality by 2030.

Justin Mohamed from the Community Controlled Health Organisation says the lives of Indigenous Australians are at stake if continued funding is not provided.

"We know that even with the level of funding which is being reported that we needed to have it was always going to be a difficult task. And for states and territories now to not commit to that level of funding it is going to be a very difficult task to see any of these gaps closed. And it's unfair to put people's lives at risk and not follow through when we're talking about life and death."

Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda is calling for bipartisan support for a renewed agreement.

"I don't think there's much choice, given the investment we've already made and given the gains. I think the Australian public don't have a problem with resources being allocated but they have a problem with not seeing gains, well we're now starting to see those gains. And I think the whole population would be disappointed if we put those gains at risk now."