Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator McCarthy, move:

That the Senate:

(a) notes that First Nations Media visited Parliament House in August this year to brief members of Parliament on their culturally significant programing and services;

(b) acknowledges that First Nations Media organisations provide First Nations people with a voice through ownership of their own media and economic opportunities through provision of local jobs, and is a primary and essential service carrying relevant news, music and information content in language and in culturally appropriate forms;

(c) acknowledges that First Nations Media provides opportunity for meaningful professional development in regions where there are often very limited employment opportunities;

(d) expresses deep concern that volunteers at First Nations Media services and organisations cannot count this meaningful work towards their Commonwealth Development Program (CDP) obligations;

(e) calls on the Federal Government to ensure that all CDP and 'work for the dole' placements are meaningful opportunities that assist with improving education and training, and ensure that those in regions subjected to the CDP are able to have their volunteer time at First Nations Media recognised as part of their mutual obligation requirements; and

(f) urges the Federal Government to implement First Nations Media's nine calls for action and fund them appropriately.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Community Development Program supports strong engagement and job outcomes for remote jobseekers, supporting people into around 27,000 jobs since 2015. The government does not support this motion as Community Development Program jobseekers can already meet their mutual obligation requirements through a broad range of activities, including placements with employers such as First Nations Media.

Question agreed to.