Selwyn Button

Budget season is well underway, and state and federal governments have been casting far and wide for savings. Balancing the books is an important part of responsible government — but good fiscal management is not just about spending less, it’s also about spending on the right things. Australia’s experience with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap is a case in point.

The Productivity Commission’s first review of progress towards the National Agreement on Closing the Gap found little evidence of governments transforming the way they work with Indigenous people. We know that intentional action is needed to reverse this trend — but where can governments start? On a recent visit to New Zealand, I was inspired by what I learned about the role of Te Arawhiti — the Māori name for the Office of Māori Crown Relations.