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

Giving Australians jobs and small business opportunities is the whole reason that we on this side of the chamber are here. The dignity of work is the very best form of welfare the government can provide. In my own portfolio there has been a remarkable turnaround in Indigenous jobs and training, which was characterised by churn and training for training's sake by those opposite. We have now supported over 60,000 Indigenous jobseekers into work, which has translated into a 23.3 per cent increase in the number of Indigenous Australians with a job since the 2011 census. We are also supporting small business opportunities. Before we came to government, Indigenous businesses were all but locked out of Commonwealth contracts, with just 30 Indigenous businesses and $6.2 million in 2012-13. Now there are over a thousand, supporting a billion dollars in contracts. Everywhere you look there is jobs and small business growth for Indigenous Australians and for all Australians. (Time expired)