First Steps in Closing the Gap
Economic Participation
Participation in the Australian economy and intergenerational wealth transfer are critical to reducing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage.
In the election context, we made a commitment to an overarching Indigenous Economic Development Strategy (IEDS).
One of the central aims of the strategy will be to increase employment for Indigenous Australians, particularly young people, providing meaningful work with career progression.
The IEDS will harness new and existing infrastructure, Indigenous financial assets, land reform, the native title system, education and training, health and employment services and business development programs, together with networks across government and the private sector. It will include the development of stronger partnerships with industry aimed at getting more jobs for Indigenous people.
The strategy will also address issues such as appropriate monitoring of and support for Indigenous organisations receiving royalties and native title payments, corporate governance and leadership of Indigenous organisations, and financial literacy within Indigenous communities.
Current structures and programs supporting Indigenous economic development are being reviewed to assess progress to date, identify strategic directions and strengthen linkages. The Government will also be considering a number of interesting ideas around Indigenous economic development put forward at the Australia 2020 Summit on 19-20 April 2008.
The implications of the IEDS will be considered in the context of the Single Indigenous Budget for 2009-10.
In this Budget the Business Ready Program for Indigenous Tourism (BRPIT) will receive $1.8 million next financial year to promote Indigenous tourism to the international market.
BRPIT supports 24 start-up and established tourism businesses across Australia, giving individuals and communities a path to economic independence as well as a means of preserving and celebrating their culture. The 24 businesses will receive continued mentoring and other support to enhance their sustainability.
Hostels to provide accommodation for up to 100 young people will be built in four West Australian communities (Halls Creek, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and Broome) to give young Indigenous Australians better access to skills training related to employment. This is a joint project with the Western Australian Government, announced in April 2008. The Australian Government will contribute $10 million to fund construction, with the State Government taking responsibility for project management.
The Government has also provided $10 million over five years between 2007 and 2011 for the establishment of a Remote Enterprise Centre in Alice Springs. The centre will support new and existing remote businesses, including Indigenous businesses, by connecting them to other companies for mentoring and private investment and partnerships. It will provide access to technical experts, scientific advice and the latest technology, as well as help to identify new markets and provide advice on legal and regulatory issues.
In February, the Government provided additional funding of $7.6 million over four years to 2010-11 for the National Arts and Crafts Industry Support Program. This will expand the program’s assistance to Aboriginal art centres and other organisations which support and develop the Indigenous visual arts and crafts sector.
A further $5.5 million of funding was committed by the Government in February to support the Yamatji Marlpa Narna Baba Maaja Aboriginal Corporation, the native title representative body for the Yamatji and Pilbara regions, to assist in the Pilbara Connection Project. This funding will help facilitate negotiations on current and future mining activity in the Pilbara.
Two portfolio agencies contribute to the Government’s economic development objectives.
Indigenous Business Australia provides loans, grants and other support for small Indigenous businesses, and makes larger strategic investments with joint-venture partners on behalf of Indigenous Australians.
The ILC National Indigenous Land Strategy 2007-12 focuses on economic-development outcomes from the ILC’s land acquisition and management functions. ILC projects prioritise the provision of training, sustainable employment, capacity building and business incubation, as well as the forging of partnerships across government, Indigenous communities and organisations and the private and non-government sectors. These partnerships attract the financial and human resources to allow the development of long-term sustainable projects, particularly in key industries such as pastoralism and tourism.
The activities of these agencies are being reviewed in the context of the upcoming Indigenous Economic Development Strategy.
The Budget is providing $2.6 million in 2008-09 to continue the Australian Public Service Indigenous Employment Strategy. The strategy, overseen by the Australian Public Service Commission, provides service-wide initiatives to increase Indigenous recruitment and extend career-development opportunities to Indigenous people. It is part of our commitment not just to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment, but also to ensure that Indigenous expertise and perspectives make a significant contribution to policy-making processes across government.