Strengthening NSW Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap

The NSW Government notes the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) and the NSW Premier’s Department tabled a joint response to the Audit Report to the NSW Parliament on Thursday 29 May.

This joint response demonstrates the strong partnership between the NSW Government and CAPO to achieve Closing the Gap outcomes for Aboriginal people.

Closing the Gap is a priority of the Minns Labor Government.

The Performance Audit Report marks the halfway point of the Closing the Gap Agreement in NSW and provides an important opportunity to strengthen the partnership between Government and the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) to drive accountability and transparency.

The Report reinforces what’s working and provides guidance on what needs to change. 

The NSW Government acknowledges the Report’s findings and reaffirms the Government’s commitment to ensuring the National Agreement is implemented with integrity, accountability and in genuine partnership with Aboriginal people.

The Report’s recommendations will help strengthen the NSW Government’s partnership with CAPO and accelerate progress to Closing the Gap. 

The Report acknowledges recent progress made to better support governance of Closing the Gap, ensure increased accountability and enable better decision-making, while also emphasising that further improvements are needed.

While the progress is welcome, the NSW Government acknowledges there is much more that needs to be done.

The Government remains focussed on continuing to work in partnership with CAPO to deliver meaningful change and reflect the shared vision of Aboriginal people to decide their own futures. ​

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, David Harris said:

“I am committed to upholding the principles of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, of shared decision making, self-determination, and delivering real change for Aboriginal people across NSW.

“I’m also committed to the relationship between the NSW government and CAPO, because progress depends on us working together effectively.”

NSW CAPO Co-Chair, Councillor Charles Lynch said:

“This Report reinforces what we’ve known for some time – that delivering real outcomes under the National Agreement requires more than just structures and meetings. It demands genuine power-sharing, clear accountability, and a shift in how government operates.

“NSW CAPO welcomes the recommendations as a chance to strengthen how we work – both internally and in partnership. We look forward to using the report to help drive progress and ensure better outcomes for our communities. With clearer roles, stronger processes, and a shared focus on transformative impact, we have an opportunity to reset and move forward together.”

Response to Audit Office recommendations

• Recommendation 1: the Premier’s Department will continue to work with NSW Government agencies on embedding Closing the Gap across sectors. The Department will seek to ensure that responsibility for the administration of operational funding for NSW CAPO’s partnership governance work is assigned internally to the group best equipped for this task. In relation to pre-existing NSW Government policies and programs that relate to outcomes for Aboriginal people to the National Agreement, including the OCHRE plan and treaty consultations, the Department will further explore this recommendation.
• Recommendation 2: the Department and NSW CAPO are committed to the partnership principles of the National Agreement and the NSW Partnership Agreement. We will further explore the best methods to achieve shared decision-making. Regarding the implementation of a sustainable funding model, we will work to further develop this noting any decision for funding would be subject to budget decisions.
• Recommendation 3: the Department and NSW CAPO are committed to improving accountability, planning and oversight of the implementation of the National Agreement in NSW. Work is underway to ensure NSW Implementation Plans focus on, and clearly align with the Priority Reforms, and to implement structured monitoring of the progress of projects, budget management and delivery risks under the National Agreement.
• Recommendation 4: NSW CAPO will implement internal governance processes that document the management of potential probity issues arising from Coalition member’s participation in the delivery of the National Agreement in NSW, and provide increased transparency of the Coalition’s decision-making process, expenditure and delivery of outcomes under the National Agreement.