Australian Human Rights Commission Australia and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), Shadow report to the CERD Committee – 8 July 2010 28. However, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people (‘Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples’) noted in his 2010 report on Australia that: Despite the Government’s attention to indigenous issues, there is a continued need to develop new initiatives and reform existing ones, in consultation and in real partnership with indigenous peoples, to conform to international standards requiring genuine respect for cultural integrity and self-determination. 21 29. The Commission supports the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples that governments undertake greater consultation and engagement with Indigenous peoples concerning the design and delivery of government programs and services to address Indigenous disadvantage. 22 6.5 Indigenous health (ICERD 5 and DRIP 24) 30. The Commission has welcomed the substantial financial commitments for Indigenous health made under the COAG National Indigenous Reform Agreement and the COAG National Integrated Strategy for Closing the Gap in Indigenous Disadvantage. The Commission has also welcomed the establishment of a new peak body and the provision of additional funding for Aboriginal and Islander health workers, and the establishment of Pathways to Community Control under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum, which provides a road map for Governments and Aboriginal controlled health community organisations to work together as part of the long term vision of Closing the Gap. 31. The Commission notes the Government’s positive progress towards the COAG target of halving the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five years, within a decade. However, the Commission notes with concern the rising level of low birth weight babies which is clearly associated with under-five mortality and does not bode well for the future. 32. The Australian Government, the states of Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory have signed the Close the Gap Statement of Intent. In doing so, they committed to develop a comprehensive, long-term plan of action to achieve equality of health status and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and nonindigenous Australians by 2030. Other commitments include: • ensuring primary health care services and health infrastructure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which are capable of bridging the gaps in health standards, by 2018 • ensuring the full participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their representative bodies in all aspects of addressing their health needs 11