Australia has no clue about indigenous communities: Rudd

Darwin (Australia), July 3 (ANI): Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has admitted that the country hasn't got enough statistical information about what's happening in its indigenous communities.

Following the release of the Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage report yesterday, Rudd said governments still need a clear indication of what's happening.

According to news.com, the Productivity Commission report has found a worsening in child abuse among indigenous children. It's also found there's been no improvements in 80 per cent of the economic and social indicators, including literacy and numeracy.

The report was released at yesterday's COAG meeting in Darwin, during which Rudd pledged over 46 million dollars over four years to improve data collection.

The intervention in indigenous communities should be extended to Western Australia, the Opposition says.

Closing the gap would take decades but extending the Northern Territory intervention - initiated by the previous Howard government - would help, said deputy Opposition leader Julie Bishop.

Rudd is in Kununurra in northern Western Australia today, where he is expected to sign a 200 million dollar local development package the Government says will help improve the lives of indigenous people. (ANI)