2006 Indigenous Health Report Card
The Australian Medical Association’s 2006 report card on Indigenous Health, highlights the need to address the high imprisonment rate among Indigenous Australians. It’s timely, given the debate over recent weeks has seen Indigenous leaders calling for a government commitment to treatment programs, as an alternative to heavier policing and more jail time for people struggling with substance abuse. The National Director of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation, Gary Highland, says the AMA report card is extremely disturbing, and shows the gap between the need for health care and actual spending is getting bigger. He says the lack of primary health care plays a role in the violence being seen in many communities and the government must urgently change it’s priorities.