Progress being made in remote areas

Australia's indigenous service delivery supremo says it is taking governments too long to provide adequate facilities in remote Aboriginal communities.

Presenting his second six-monthly report, coordinator-general for remote indigenous services Brian Gleeson said there were also still too many excuses from governments on the issue.

But, he said, some progress was being made in addressing entrenched indigenous disadvantage.

"There is still some way to go to get all levels and parts of government working together in partnership to implement agreed actions," he said in the report.

"In my mind, it still takes far too long and there are too many excuses."

The report looked at health, housing, schooling, safety in communities and job creation.

Mr Gleeson said they needed to build on successes while learning from mistakes and not repeating them.

"There has to be a lot more attention given to communities being in the driving seat, not only driving but determining where, how and when to go," he said.

"Governments still confront cynicism from community members who will need to see evidence that this is indeed a new way of working, rather than just a different way to describe what governments have always done."

The report shows a total of 136 new homes had been completed, with 89 under construction in priority communities as at mid-year.

As well, 668 jobs had been created in 29 priority communities while schools in 24 communities had received 402 of 512 computers.

Health services under the Indigenous Chronic Disease Package Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program have been approved for six communities while early childhood access to antenatal care, pre-pregnancy and teenage sexual and reproductive health is available in 26 communities.

In his first report released last December, Mr Gleeson identified a litany of shortcomings, declaring a lack of basic services and poor governance in communities must be addressed.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said the government was now considering further recommendations aimed at improving community governance and training.

"The coordinator-general believes progress is being made and we are now beginning to see some measurable changes in the living conditions of indigenous people in the priority communities, including increased employment," she said in a statement.

"Disadvantage cannot be turned around overnight, and we are committed to do all we can to continue improving these communities in partnership with local leaders."