澳大利亚生产力委员会最新年度报告显示，"弭合差距"(Closing the Gap)计划的执行成效有限[1][2]。该计划涵盖的19项目标中，仅有1项正式达成，另有3项达标或在正轨上[1][2]。与此同时，9项未达标的指标中有4项出现恶化，包括成人监禁、自杀和儿童居家照护等关键领域[1]。此外，就业和教育等另外8项指标虽有改善，但儿童早期发展、寄养儿童、监禁率和自杀率仍在恶化[2]。
唯一达成的目标是第一民族儿童早期教育入学率[2]。这一指标从2016年的基线年61.3%大幅提升至95%，并在全国每个州和领地都实现了目标[2]。然而，这一成就难以掩盖整体计划的不尽如人意。非原住民的平均寿命仍比原住民长约10年[1]。
针对现状，有声音主张改革现有框架，采取赔偿性司法方式[1]。这一改革方向强调通过土地权利、条约和主权自决等途径来转变殖民关系，而非继续依赖现有的"弭合差距"模式[1]。
Australia's Productivity Commission has released its latest annual progress report on the Closing the Gap initiative, revealing a mixed picture of outcomes across the 19 national targets designed to improve outcomes for First Nations Australians.[1][2] Of the 19 goals, only one has been formally achieved: First Nations early childhood education enrolment has reached 95 percent nationwide, up from a 2016 baseline of 61.3 percent.[2] This improvement has been recorded across every state and territory.[2] Additionally, eight other targets covering employment and education have shown improvement.[2]
However, the report highlights persistent failures in critical areas.[1][2] Four of the unmet indicators are deteriorating, including adult incarceration rates, suicide, and child out-of-home care.[1] The gap in life expectancy between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australians remains substantial at approximately ten years.[1]
The Closing the Gap framework, established in 2008 following the government's apology to the Stolen Generations, has failed to meaningfully improve Indigenous living conditions.[1] Critics argue the approach requires fundamental restructuring, pointing to ongoing legacies of the Northern Territory intervention policies.[1] Advocates propose a shift toward restorative justice approaches that emphasize transforming colonial relationships through mechanisms such as land rights recognition, treaty negotiations, and Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.[1]
