'The researchers also found the latter half of the Howard government years (2001-2006) was more effective at closing the gaps than either the first half (1996-2001) or during the latter Hawke/Keating government years (1991-1996).'
April 17, 2008 IT could take 2000 years before the life expectancy gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians is bridged, a group of academic researchers predict.
Significant changes need to be made to government policy to close the gap more quickly, they say.
Jon Altman, Boyd Hunter and Nicholas Biddle, from the Australian National University, have used census data to chart likely timeframes for closing gaps in various areas. They found that from 1971 to 2006 there was improvement in most social indicators, including employment, school qualification and school attendance.
Based on present trends and policy, they estimated the gaps in those areas would be closed within 35 years.
However, in other areas - including male and female life expectancy, median income and unemployment - the researchers found the gaps were not closing at all.
They estimated it would take 2000 years before those gaps were closed.
Professor Altman said the findings showed indigenous affairs policy was much more complex than thought.
"For a number (of measurements) there is a divergence in outcomes, suggesting that the gaps will never close without significant policy changes," Prof Altman said in a statement.
The researchers also found the latter half of the Howard government years (2001-2006) was more effective at closing the gaps than either the first half (1996-2001) or during the latter Hawke/Keating government years (1991-1996).
