Closing the Gap Template Letter

Letter to your State Minister for Health

We encourage you to use this template letter to send/email the Minister for Health in your state or territory, encouraging them to take action on Closing the Gap.

To the Honourable <MP Full Name>,

My name is <Your Name>, and I live in <Suburb> — part of your electorate of <Electorate> OR <Suburb, State/Territory>. As one of over 50,000 Australian Christians that are part of the Common Grace movement, I am writing to you today to voice my concern about the ongoing inequalities in areas such as health, education and employment faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across these lands now called Australia. .

As Christians, we believe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are, and always have been created in the image of the Creator. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have an ancient and important God-appointed role as custodians in these lands now called Australia. For too long this nation of Australia has not listened to, and not sought justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We grieve the lives lost due to lack of action and investment to Close the Gap, and we fight for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be embraced as the world’s oldest living continuing cultures and peoples.

While we know that Closing the Gap has been a Federal initiative, as the State Minister for Health, <Mr/Ms MP Last Name>, you must know that it will take all people from all states to Close the Gap. It is important to the very lives of your Aboriginal constituents, and non-Aboriginal constituents such as myself are concerned. I am writing to you today to ask what you will be doing to help Close the Gap for Aboriginal peoples in <your State/Territory>.

<MP Full Name>, the first closing the gap targets were established almost 15 years ago and Australia has failed to Close the Gap. Devastatingly, the gap has actually been widening across many areas. On 28th July we found out that only 4 of 17 closing the gap targets are on track. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to die too young and too often, and face overrepresentation in the prison system. As highlighted on ABC’s Four Corners (7th March 2022), Rheumatic Heart Disease is having a devastating impact on Aboriginal communities, particularly for young people. Despite this being a preventable disease, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the world’s highest rates of Rheumatic Heart Disease. This is a heartbreaking reality, causing too many premature deaths and community grief. 

Closing the Gap solutions must be community led, from a human rights based approach, and include full participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in all areas of decision making. How will you ensure Australia actively works, and sufficiently funds, the responsibility to Close the Gap?

As a non-Aboriginal Australian Christian, and a resident of <State/Territory>, your action to Close the Gap is vital to ensure the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as well as this state and nation groaning with injustice against First Nations peoples. Your action to Close the Gap, <MP Full Name>, will save lives and help bring justice that is long overdue.

Yours faithfully,

<Your Full Name>

Minister for Health contact details: