With just 12 months until the first wave of Closing the Gap deadlines, the road to reducing Indigenous disadvantage appears longer than first imagined.
When the first targets were set to "close the gap" between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in 2008, there was hope and optimism.
Then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told Parliament that none of it is impossible, and all of it is achievable with clear goals, clear thinking and by placing an absolute premium on respect, cooperation and mutual responsibility.
The country now has just 12 months before the first three of the original targets are due for assessment - on child mortality, academic performance and employment outcomes.
Short of an extraordinary turnaround, none will be achieved.
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