Indigenous disadvantage: what they said

CLOSING THE GAP: WHAT THEY SAID

"This seventh Closing The Gap report is in many respects profoundly disappointing."

- Prime Minister Tony Abbott tells parliament.

"This report confronts us with two nations, two Australias."

- Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

"There is no point pretending things are better than they are."

- Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion.

"The sad fact... is that really we are slipping and we are going backwards in a number of very important areas."

- Warren Mundine, chair of the prime minister's indigenous advisory council.

"There's not a lot to smile about on a day like today".

- Indigenous Labor senator Nova Peris.