Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the UN Committee On The Elimination Of Racial Discrimination, 30 October 2017 federal system as limitation on its ability to exercise responsibility for supporting indigenous rights defenders’.127 Recommendation 24: That the Australian Government provide adequate ongoing funding of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak organisations and for Indigenous legal assistance. Cultural rights (native title) (CERD articles 2, 5; Declaration articles 3, 10, 11, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32; CO 16 & 18) 110. The Commission welcomes recent initiatives to address barriers to the recognition of native title and challenges to enabling Indigenous-led development on the Indigenous Estate, such as COAG’s Investigation into Indigenous Land Administration and Use128 and the ALRC’s review of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).129 111. The Australian Government has released a White Paper on the development of northern Australia. Significant tranches of land in northern Australia (Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory) are held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Serious concerns have been raised about the extent of genuine engagement by governments with these land holders on issues that affect them and the effectiveness of laws for the protection and management of Indigenous heritage sites and knowledge.130 Recommendation 25: That the Australian Government ensure that any reforms that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ lands are undertaken with their participation and free, prior and informed consent. Recommendation 26: That the Australian Government implement the recommendations of the ALRC’s Connection to Country Review of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) and the Council of Australian Governments’ Investigation into Indigenous Land Administration and Use in order to better recognise and protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ native title rights and interests. Recommendation 27: That the Australian Government ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights to their traditional estates are not negatively affected by the development of northern Australia. Closing the Gap Strategy (CERD article 5; Declaration articles 3, 4, 13, 14, 19, 21, 23 & 24; CO 21 & 22) 112. The Commission welcomes the targets in the Australian Government’s Closing the Gap strategy. These targets are: i. to halve the gap in child mortality by 2018 ii. to close the gap in life expectancy by 2031 iii. to have 85% of all Indigenous four-year-olds enrolled in early childhood education by 2025 23