Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator McCarthy. The government has said that it is committed to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, state and territory governments and the Coalition of Peaks to close the gap on a range of outcomes including health, education, justice and jobs. Can the new minister please explain how the government's approach will help to close the gap in employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Australians?

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

I thank Senator Ghosh for the question. I look forward to getting over to Western Australia in the near future. Certainly as the new Minister for Indigenous Australians, I'm deeply committed to work in partnership with First Nations communities and organisations and state and territory governments to improve outcomes for First Nations people.

At the 2022 election we promised to get rid of the failed Community Development Program, or CDP. It failed individuals and communities and left people stuck in cycles of poverty.

I had my first meeting as minister with our First Nations Reference Group for the Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program, continuing the important work of my predecessor, Linda Burney. The group has incredible knowledge and experience in remote employment and economic development. And it's providing important advice to the government on the implementation program which will help close the gap in employment outcomes and boost economic opportunities in remote areas.

It will be tough. We are doing this, though, in partnership with First Nations people. We know that, by working together, we will get better outcomes. The remote jobs program will create 3,000 jobs in remote communities. It is the first stage in meeting our commitment to replace the CDP with real jobs, proper wages and decent conditions, including superannuation, annual leave and sick leave. The new remote jobs program will mean Indigenous Australians can have access to the benefits and dignity of work no matter where they live. This will be life-changing for many people in remote communities. We believe that those in remote communities deserve, like all Australians, to access the benefits and dignity of work.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ghosh, first supplementary?

Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can you please detail how the new jobs program will work and how the program is being designed in partnership with First Nations Australians?

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

The remote jobs program will initially create 3,000 jobs with proper wages and decent conditions. It is the first stage in the transition to replace the CDP. The program is about self-determination through economic and community development, jobs that local communities want and need to grow remote economies. The new remote jobs program will build up local skills for the local care economy, services and maintenance.

We know that the old CDP program was a failure, and it simply didn't deliver for remote Australia. We've been trialling and testing new approaches to job creation in remote communities to help inform how we best replace CDP. We're working with Indigenous communities to design and implement the programs communities want. The Productivity Commission highlighted the importance of listening, and that's what we're doing. But we're also putting communities in the driver seat to create local jobs and businesses.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ghosh, second supplementary?

Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Having meaningful and secure jobs is foundational for economic development and enabling First Nations peoples to build better futures for themselves, their families and their communities. Minister, can you please expand on what else the government is doing to continue improving employment outcomes for First Nations Australians?

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

Yes, the Albanese Labor government is committed to working with First Nations people to deliver improvements and employment outcomes for First Nations people so Indigenous Australians can have access to the benefits and dignity of work no matter where they live to create a better future for themselves, their families and the next generation. We're boosting employment opportunities for First Nations Australians. More than 300 people have enrolled in the First Nations Health Worker Traineeship Program as part of our commitment to finding 500 First Nations health workers. Over 14,000 First Nations students have enrolled in fee-free TAFE courses. We have progressed work to expand the Indigenous rangers by up to 1,000 jobs as part of our plan to double the number of rangers by 2030. And we're getting on with delivering our Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program to help close the gap in employment outcomes and boost economic opportunities.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.