Summary of the Final Report Reviewing Methods for Assessing Progress Towards Closing the Gap

Abstract

This report summarises the research team’s Commissioned Report titled A review of methods for assessing progress towards Closing the Gap: Final Report. It aims to make the main findings of that lengthy report accessable in a shorter format. For more details, please refer to the main report available from https://dx.doi.org/10.25911/KGQS-GQ70. The report reviewed how the Productivity Commission measures progress towards the targets of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The study aimed to evaluate the current methods for tracking national targets, create a framework for assessing state and territory contributions, and test the revised approach using existing data. The review identified problems with the data used to measure progress. These issues include data gaps, infrequent collection, delays in reporting, and concerns about cultural suitability. This results in outdated and culturally inappropriate information, which hinders effective monitoring and weakens accountability. Additionally, inconsistencies in data sources lead to significant revisions, affecting the reliability of progress assessments. The report also suggests improvements to the statistical methods used to assess progress under the National Agreement. However, these improvements are considered secondary to the data issues identified. Finally, the review describes a method for evaluating state and territory contributions to national targets. We recommend a method that aims to align with the principles of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, and assessment state and territory progress towards contributions using jurisdictional data.