As part of the employment white paper released this week, a First Nations Economic Partnership will be scoped to create more jobs for Indigenous workers.
The ATSI labour force participation scoping will examine partnering with the Coalition of Peaks and other organisations. It will consider translating First Nations’ knowledge, assets, interests and rights into tangible, sustainable social and economic benefits for communities; community-controlled organisations; and opportunities for job creation.
The white paper outlined how the employment rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people was crucial to meeting Closing the Gap targets.
In a statement, minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said the policy work would align with four priority areas the government has identified the Voice should focus on.
The priority areas of jobs, health, education and housing will guide advice to government should October’s referendum pass.
“I will ask the Voice to provide advice on the best ways to support more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into local jobs, if the referendum is successful,” Burney said.
“Having a job is one of the building blocks of a good life — but too many Indigenous Australians are missing out. This hurts individuals and families, and diminishes our nation.
“The current system isn’t working — and we need to do things better.”
Scoping work for the partnership is due to commence soon.
Compared to non-Indigenous people, official data shows that ATSI employment rates over the past 30 years have not “closed notably’. The economic policy vision outlined in the employment white paper calls for a more inclusive labour market in which everyone has the opportunity for secure, fairly paid work and people, businesses and communities can be beneficiaries of change and thrive.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the goal was to create more opportunities for more Indigenous Australians in communities across the country. He suggested a First Nations Economic Partnership would help to broaden and deepen opportunities for creating a fairer society.
“If we’re going to close the gap and get better value for our investments, we’ve got to do things better,” Chalmers said.
“To do that, we’ve got to get better at generating opportunities where people live, understanding the issues on the ground and empowering communities to do what they know works.”
The employment white paper has also called for revamping the Community Development Program (CDP), which it determined was setting communities back. A new remote jobs program on based on what the government said was “real jobs, proper wages and decent conditions” is currently being developed to replace the CDP.
“This will increase local community control, help people get the skills their community needs and build social economies,” Burney said.
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