ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the intersection of Indigenous data sovereignty, Indigenous data governance and the Australian Commonwealth Government policy of “Closing the Gap”. We first explore the contemporary Indigenous affairs legislative and policy nexus including the Closing the Gap policy genesis and how political philosophies have been operationalized to drive the policy and data agenda. We conclude the chapter with an analysis of Closing the Gap policy against Indigenous data sovereignty principles including guidance on how Closing the Gap (and social policy more broadly) can benefit from operationalizing Indigenous data sovereignty principles and Indigenous data governance in Australia.