Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, I present the committee's report, incorporating additional comments from the coalition members and senator, entitled Inquiry into economic self-determination and opportunities for First Nations Australians.

Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—I'd like to begin by thanking the chair, Senator Stewart, in the other place; other committee members; and particularly the secretariat of the committee for all their hard work in organising hearings and the publication of the inquiry report. I also thank everyone who made a submission to the inquiry. This included 109 individuals, organisations and government agencies, including from my own electorate of Durack.

I'm sure I speak for all the members of the committee when I say that this was an important inquiry, as it provided an opportunity to look at practical solutions to contribute to closing the economic gap that exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The chair's report included 22 recommendations. These were divided into sections relating to enhancing access to capital and activating the Indigenous estate; Indigenous culture and intellectual property; vocational training and new industries; and employing the lessons from international jurisdictions.

Now, whilst the coalition members and senator of the committee didn't submit a dissenting report, it was important for us to submit additional comments. Therein, we outlined the different approach we believe should be taken and have outlined 12 recommendations that we agreed with or could support with slight amendment.

Firstly, it was clear from the inquiry that there is a big gap in collecting data on Indigenous businesses. It's common sense that the government should better understand the composition and economic contribution of Indigenous businesses.

Another area we agreed on was consideration to be given on the future of the Indigenous Procurement Policy, known as the IPP. The IPP commenced in 2015, under the then coalition government, and has since contributed $10 billion in Commonwealth contracts for Indigenous businesses. This policy has been a clear driver for the rapid growth of the Indigenous business sector, and the coalition is particularly proud of that.

While the committee has recommended that the three per cent target for total number of contracts and 1.75 per cent target for total value of accessible contracts to be awarded to Indigenous businesses be expanded, I would like to note that these targets are already being exceeded and so I would say they're not ambitious enough. It is important though to ensure that the IPP is delivering on its purposes to stimulate Indigenous entrepreneurship, business and economic development. For this reason, the definition of Indigenous businesses and issues around so-called black cladding should be considered by the minister.

Seeing more Indigenous Australians start their own business is something we would all very much like to see. The inquiry highlighted some of the barriers that exist, with the greatest being access to capital. Now, I don't dispute this claim. However, I will note not all of the solutions put forward are worthy of serious consideration. One such example is the call for superannuation funds to be mandated to invest in Indigenous ventures. Superannuation belongs to the Australian people; it is not something for the government to play with.

Homeownership is critical to economic wellbeing and is correctly noted in this report as enabling further economic opportunities. Unfortunately, this is another area where we see a gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Both targeted and broader policies like the coalition's recently announced housing infrastructure program should be considered by the government.

A targeted measure we recommend was that the government commit to a full review of the Native Title Act. This should be done with a view to encourage private homeownership and business creation on native title land. The coalition notes that the native title framework has left many Indigenous Australians land rich but dirt poor.

Also problematic was the weight given to opportunities in the energy transition. Each day it becomes clearer and clearer that the Albanese Labor government has not been honest with the Australian people with regard to their renewables only strategy.

I would like to close with a few general comments. The first is the clear irony in concluding that the path to self-economic determination is through greater dependence on the Commonwealth government. It is the view of the coalition that the goal must be to minimise this dependence over time. Only that would look like success. Another issue we had was the general tone of the report. Australians have made very clear that they want practical solutions, not merely symbolic actions. Unfortunately, this report looks to include buzzwords and, in multiple cases, too many agencies are being tasked to do the same thing.

Once again, I'd like to thank my committee colleagues and note that the work of the committee continues with our inquiry into the Greens Truth and Justice Commission Bill, which is due to report next year.

Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I want to acknowledge the hard work of the members of the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs on this important report tabled today. In particular, I acknowledge the fine work of the committee chair, Senator Jana Stewart, as well as the work of the deputy chair, the member for Durack. Thank you for your efforts. I want to thank the committee secretariat as well. They play a crucial role in helping to deliver important reports such as this, and their tireless efforts are always appreciated. Finally, I want to express my immense gratitude for the public's engagement with this inquiry, as the committee received 115 written submissions to inform the report and was assisted by a multitude of witnesses during the eight public hearings held for the inquiry. To all who contributed: thank you for your invaluable insights into this subject matter.

The importance of this report and the committee's inquiry into economic self-determination and opportunities for First Nations Australians cannot be overstated. First Nations Australians are huge contributors to the Australian economy. The report rightly states that they punch above their weight considering the significant disadvantages First Nations people still have in our country. Research from the University of Melbourne shows that First Nations businesses generate $16.1 billion a year in revenue, employ more than 116,000 people, pay $4.2 million in wages and are 40 to 100 times more likely than non-Indigenous businesses to employ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff. That last bit means that not only does the First Nations economy produce massive benefits for Australia in an economic sense, but it also provides crucial uplift for some of the most disadvantaged people and communities in this country. The report found that, for every dollar of revenue spent by these businesses, First Nations enterprises go on to create $4.41 of economic and social value. This is a First Nations economy that is, as I speak, smashing barriers and changing lives for thousands upon thousands of Australians who work within those businesses. It's one whose success filters to the very ground level of First Nations communities.

This is a significant strength of our national economy, one that is genuinely life changing for First Nations people, but it continues to fly under the radar. That's why it's so important we, as legislators, are actively looking at ways we can support and expand the First Nations economy. The report rightly provides 22 recommendations to that effect. This underpins a fundamental reframing of the First Nations economic narrative by developing new instruments and strengthening existing ones to enhance First Nations people's access to finance and capital.

I'm also proud to note that the Albanese Labor government has already taken significant steps in this direction, making historic investments into jobs, education, health and opportunities, including fee-free TAFE, which has seen 30,000 First Nations enrolments; a $777.4 million investment, alongside 3,000 jobs created in remote Australia; and the establishment of a First Nations economic partnership to foster comprehensive economic dialogue from the ground up. We're doing this because, as the inquiry makes clear, with the right government approach historical barriers to wealth, employment and social inclusion can be addressed meaningfully through ensuring that First Nations Australians are able to better access economic opportunities.

Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the House take note of the report.

Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.