Northern Territory Emergency Reponse
Employment
The Budget continues funding ($75.4 million in 2008-09) for employment services, pre-employment programs and literacy and numeracy training for Indigenous working age adults in the Northern Territory to increase access to skills development and jobs. Funding will also continue for Community Employment Brokers who work in communities to maximise job seekers’ access to and retention in employment services. A further $5.8 million in 2008-09 will continue the delivery of Centrelink services, infrastructure and support in remote regions of the NT.
The Northern Territory Jobs Package ($92.6 million over three years) has to date funded the creation of 647 off-CDEP jobs that support delivery of Australian Government funded services. These jobs have been created in a wide range of sectors — health, education arts, sport and recreation, broadcasting, language and culture, and night patrol services. Around 290 ranger and pastoral management jobs will start before 30 June 2008. A further 900 jobs are expected to be created across the whole of the Northern Territory.
Jobs in services delivered by local government will commence soon, with additional funding provided by the Northern Territory Government which is instituting a major reform of local government from 1 July 2008.
Jobs in services provided by the Northern Territory Government will be co-funded in 2008-09.
The Government has announced the CDEP will be restored from 1 July 2008 in those communities where it was shut down as part of the NTER. The restoration is an interim measure while the Government consults with Indigenous people and other stakeholders about future directions for the program (see ‘CDEP reform’ ).