To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory:
The following residents of the ACT call on Members of the Legislative Assembly to take genuine action to implement the ACT Government’s commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap by passing the Public Sector (Closing the Gap) Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.
Both the Productivity Commission review and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led review of progress on Closing the Gap found that governments have failed to deliver the systemic reforms needed — and promised — to improve life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Here in the ACT, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to disproportionately bear the burden of working toward reconciliation and Closing the Gap. This bill is an opportunity for the ACT to be the first state or territory to bring about the transformative change needed to Close the Gap. Almost two years after the ACT voted ‘YES’ on the Voice to Parliament referendum, now is the time for our community and our government to make a firm commitment to right historic and ongoing wrongs, not only in word but in action.
This bill will embed the Government’s Closing the Gap commitments into law. ‘Business as usual’ isn’t working, and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans won’t change without the systemic transformation brought about by this bill.
Your petitioners therefore request that all Members of the Legislative Assembly vote in support of the Public Sector (Closing the Gap) Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.