The Claim
“Axed the position of coordinator-general for remote indigenous services.”
Original Sources Provided
✅ FACTUAL VERIFICATION
TRUE. The Abbott Coalition Government did abolish the position of Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services in December 2013. The position was held by Brian Gleeson, who had been appointed by the Rudd Labor Government in 2009 [1]. His contract expired on January 31, 2014, and was not renewed [2].
The position was a statutory office established under the Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services Act 2009 [3]. The Coordinator-General was responsible for monitoring, assessing, advising on, and driving reforms to government service delivery and progress toward Closing the Gap targets in 29 remote Indigenous communities across Australia [4].
The government announced the abolition in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO), stating it would save $7.1 million over three years by scrapping the office [5].
Missing Context
1. The position was tied to an expiring agreement. The Coordinator-General role was created to oversee the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery (NPARSD), which was due to expire in June 2014 [6]. The government announced it would replace NPARSD with a new "Remote Community Advancement Network" and bilateral arrangements with states and territories [7].
2. A replacement oversight mechanism was put in place. A bureaucrat from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet was assigned to take on the scrutiny role for the remaining six months of the national agreement [8]. The government stated this was a transitional arrangement while new structures were developed.
3. The role's effectiveness was questioned by the incumbent himself. Brian Gleeson noted that while the position had made progress, "it will take a generation to change" the situation in remote communities [9]. He expressed concern about replacing an independent statutory officer with a departmental bureaucrat: "Having a person in a bureaucracy doing the role may not have the same traction" [10].
4. This was part of broader Indigenous Affairs reforms. The abolition coincided with the creation of the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS), announced in May 2014, which consolidated over 150 Indigenous programs into five streamlined program areas [11]. The Abbott Government also moved Indigenous Affairs into the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, elevating its status within government [12].
Source Credibility Assessment
The original source is the Herald Sun, a News Corp Australia publication. Key considerations:
- The Herald Sun is a conservative-leaning tabloid newspaper [13]
- News Corp publications have been documented as having conservative political advocacy [14]
- The article itself was a factual news report (AAP wire copy), not opinion [15]
- The same story was reported by SBS News, a public broadcaster with a statutory obligation to impartiality [16]
- The Herald Sun's reporting on this specific issue appears factually accurate and consistent with other news sources
While News Corp outlets have a documented conservative bias in editorial coverage, the specific article cited here presents factual information without apparent partisan framing.
Labor Comparison
Did Labor do something similar?
Search conducted: "Labor government abolished ATSIC" and "Labor government CDEP reforms"
Finding 1: Howard Government abolished ATSIC (2004). The previous Coalition government under John Howard abolished the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) in 2004-2005, a much larger Indigenous representative body [17]. This represented a more significant structural change than the abolition of the Coordinator-General position.
Finding 2: Labor reformed CDEP (2008-2009). The Rudd Labor Government significantly reformed the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program, which had provided employment and training in remote Indigenous communities. In December 2008, Minister Jenny Macklin announced changes that effectively wound down CDEP, replacing it with a new employment strategy [18]. This was described as "the untimely abolition" in some assessments, affecting thousands of Indigenous workers [19].
Comparison: Both major parties have restructured Indigenous affairs oversight bodies and employment programs while in government. The Howard Government's abolition of ATSIC was more significant in scale than the Abbott Government's abolition of the Coordinator-General role. The Rudd Labor Government's CDEP reforms also represented major structural changes to Indigenous employment programs.
Balanced Perspective
While critics viewed the abolition as reducing independent oversight of remote Indigenous service delivery [20], the government presented this as part of a broader reform agenda to improve outcomes:
Government Justification:
- The NPARSD agreement was already scheduled to expire in June 2014 [21]
- The government committed to a new Remote Community Advancement Network approach [22]
- Moving Indigenous Affairs into PM&C was intended to elevate its priority within government [23]
- The Indigenous Advancement Strategy aimed to consolidate fragmented programs for better coordination [24]
Criticisms and Concerns:
- Amnesty International condemned the decision, pointing to rising Indigenous incarceration rates [25]
- Brian Gleeson himself expressed concern that a departmental bureaucrat would lack the independence and community relationships he had built over 149 visits to 29 remote communities [26]
- The six-month transition to a departmental role meant losing an independent statutory officer who reported directly to Parliament
Broader Context: This was one of many structural changes to Indigenous affairs administration by successive governments. The Rudd Government created the position in 2009; the Abbott Government abolished it in 2013-2014. Neither party has maintained consistent institutional structures for Indigenous oversight across government transitions.
TRUE
7.0
out of 10
The claim is factually accurate. The Abbott Coalition Government did abolish the position of Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services when Brian Gleeson's contract expired in January 2014. This was announced in the December 2013 MYEFO as a cost-saving measure ($7.1 million over three years). However, the claim lacks important context: the position was tied to the expiring National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery (due to end June 2014), the government implemented transitional oversight arrangements, and this was part of broader Indigenous Affairs reforms including the creation of the Indigenous Advancement Strategy and moving Indigenous Affairs into the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Final Score
7.0
OUT OF 10
TRUE
The claim is factually accurate. The Abbott Coalition Government did abolish the position of Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services when Brian Gleeson's contract expired in January 2014. This was announced in the December 2013 MYEFO as a cost-saving measure ($7.1 million over three years). However, the claim lacks important context: the position was tied to the expiring National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery (due to end June 2014), the government implemented transitional oversight arrangements, and this was part of broader Indigenous Affairs reforms including the creation of the Indigenous Advancement Strategy and moving Indigenous Affairs into the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
📚 SOURCES & CITATIONS (15)
-
1
Appointment of Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services
Formerministers Dss Gov -
2
Indigenous services watchdog axed
The Abbott government has axed a watchdog that monitors service delivery in remote Indigenous communities.
SBS News -
3
Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services Bill 2009
Parlinfo Aph Gov
-
4PDF
National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery
Aph Gov • PDF Document -
5
Delivering our commitments for Indigenous Australians
The 2014-15 Budget is part of the Government’s Economic Action Strategy to build a strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia.
Indigenous -
6
Brian Gleeson - NACCHO Aboriginal Health News
NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News -
7
Indigenous Advancement Strategy - ANAO
Anao Gov
-
8
Abbott: Indigenous Issues Will Be At The Heart Of A Coalition Government
Full text, audio and video of Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's Address on Indigenous issues to The Sydney Institute.
AustralianPolitics.com -
9
Herald Sun - Wikipedia
Wikipedia -
10
News Corp using content for conservative political advocacy
News Corp's political influence is strong enough to sway public opinion and urgently needs scrutiny, particularly in an election year.
Independent Australia -
11
SBS Charter
Sbs Com
Original link no longer available -
12
Howard puts ATSIC to death
The Age -
13
The untimely abolition of the Community Development Employment Program
Openresearch-repository Anu Edu
-
14
Abbott government - Wikipedia
Wikipedia -
15
Indigenous Advancement Strategy - NIAA
The Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) is the way the Australian Government funds and delivers a range of programs for First Nations Australians. The IAS is administered by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA)The IAS has six key components:
Niaa Gov
Rating Scale Methodology
1-3: FALSE
Factually incorrect or malicious fabrication.
4-6: PARTIAL
Some truth but context is missing or skewed.
7-9: MOSTLY TRUE
Minor technicalities or phrasing issues.
10: ACCURATE
Perfectly verified and contextually fair.
Methodology: Ratings are determined through cross-referencing official government records, independent fact-checking organizations, and primary source documents.