Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2013 makes administrative amendments to the Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Act 2000. The bill primarily amends the Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Act 2000 to address changes from the 2013-14 budget resulting in the Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Act being administered as an annual appropriation rather than a special appropriation. This change to the funding mechanism better aligns the Indigenous education targeted assistance programs and payments with other similar payments and provides greater transparency and accountability.

All children—but particularly disadvantaged Indigenous children—need access to proper education. The Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Act enables targeted education funding to provide valuable additional support to Aboriginal and Islander students. This bill reaffirms our commitment to increasing school attendance and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, families and communities through the delivery of targeted programs.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.