Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Price for the question. It is actually incorrect. We have started the remote jobs program across many regions of Australia. In fact, we said, when we came into government, that we would get rid of the Community Development Program, which is what we've spent the last two years doing in terms of a transition. We said that we would do that. We've done that in partnership with the First Nations working group, in terms of remote jobs.

We know that the program that we're putting forward will create meaningful jobs in remote communities. In fact, I've just been having a look the at the programs across in Western Australia and the Kimberley and also in Central Australia, around the Alice Springs town camps. When I visited Kununurra, just a few weeks ago, I had the privilege to meet participants who are already benefitting from this program. I met Nathalia, who's working at the Waringarri radio and doing a terrific job there. She works in all aspects of the station, including presenting a show on staying healthy in the Kimberley, and she's already a role model for her family and community.

I also met Brendan, Efren and Tremain who are working at Wunan Maintenance Services at the tourist accommodation in town, Lily Lagoon Resort. They've employed 17 people there, and they're doing a terrific job. Through these real jobs, we're already seeing what the impact of the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program, RJED, will be on individuals, businesses and their communities. Applications are actually open now for round 2 of RJED, and I certainly encourage all eligible organisations from Cape York to the Kimberley and everywhere in between to apply.