Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 8 May 2017 4.1 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative body (ICESCR Article 2(2); LOI 8) 16. The Australian Government has provided limited funding support for the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, a national NGO voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As noted by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, ‘…explicit defunding since 2014…runs counter to the Government’s stated commitment to work with [I]ndigenous peoples.’6 17. Recommendation: That the Australian Government provide adequate ongoing funding of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples as the national representative voice for Indigenous peoples. 4.2 Closing the gap (ICESCR Articles 2, 6 & 7; LOI 7) 18. The Commission welcomes the commitment of Australian governments since 2009 to targets to close the gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians across a range of key health and wellbeing indicators. Meeting these targets is an inter-generational challenge, and progress is slow. Six of the seven closing the gap targets were either not on track or stalled this year.7 19. The Implementation Plan for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023,8 is a major commitment by the government developed in partnership with indigenous peak bodies. Future federal Budgets must adequately resource its application and operation to ensure that rights are progressively realised. 20. Recommendation: That all Australian governments redouble their efforts to achieve the Closing the Gap targets, including by adequately funding the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan and targeting programs to address the social determinants of health. 4.3 Income management and poverty (ICESCR Articles 9 & 11) 21. The Commission is concerned by the operation of income management schemes, such as the Australian Government’s Healthy Welfare Card trials, that predominately target Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As designed, these programs are not opt-in schemes, are insufficiently tailored to individual circumstances and disproportionately impact upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ human rights.9 There is an insufficient evidence base to justify their effectiveness or continuance. 22. Recommendation: That current models of income management schemes be discontinued or redesigned on a voluntary, opt in basis with appropriate oversight of decision making and monitoring. 5