Trevor Evans (Brisbane, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you for this opportunity to ask you some questions, Minister, in your role representing the Minister for Indigenous Affairs. I have long been very interested in and engaged in the issue of Indigenous advancement in Brisbane and in fact all around Australia. It has been great to have several visits to Brisbane already, over a very short period of time, from the Minister for Indigenous Affairs to talk about local Indigenous issues. On many of those occasions, we have focused specifically on Indigenous employment, Indigenous skills and Indigenous entrepreneurship. I know how important skills, jobs and economic opportunities are for many people, including Indigenous people in Brisbane. I know from my previous work at the National Retail Association, where we did a lot of work in the area of skills development for Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland and in the Torres Strait, as well as for a range of other vulnerable and less-skilled people right around society, how important it is to teach them and to help them achieve their full potential.

I am very aware that the coalition took to the election one of the most proudly pro-business platforms in living memory. Included in that platform was a great amount of support specifically for Indigenous entrepreneurs to create jobs and investment for all sectors in our community. I have been really interested and delighted to research and learn that the coalition has managed to create 39,000 Indigenous jobs since it came into office in 2013. I am a very strong supporter of the government having established a $115 million Indigenous entrepreneurs package, including $90 million for an Indigenous entrepreneurs fund. In the ongoing task of closing the gap, I know that the coalition is very committed to encouraging Indigenous innovation to create more opportunities for Indigenous businesses and, in turn, employment.

I am also very keen to ensure that the coalition's approach to government procurement is a game-changer for Indigenous businesses. Since the program commenced in July last year, the coalition government has awarded 911 contracts worth $154.1 million to over 270 Indigenous businesses. That compares to only about $6.2 million in Commonwealth procurement outcomes for Indigenous businesses in 2012-13, before we took office.

Minister, can you please tell me how the budget has guaranteed Indigenous entrepreneurs funding? What is the government doing to ensure funding will flow to business support and capability development activities?

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