Representatives of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) will be appearing before the Northern Australia Committee on Thursday 2 December for its Inquiry into the Opportunities and Challenges of the Engagement of Traditional Owners in the Economic Development of Northern Australia.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 1 December 2021

Representatives of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) will be appearing before the Northern Australia Committee on Thursday 2 December for its Inquiry into the Opportunities and Challenges of the Engagement of Traditional Owners in the Economic Development of Northern Australia. This public hearing will give the Committee an opportunity to examine the role of Commonwealth entities like the ILSC in facilitating economic development in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Committee Chair Warren Entsch said that, ‘Understanding the challenges and successes of bodies like ILSC is an important part of this inquiry. The Commonwealth Government should be at the forefront of efforts to open up economic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The Committee is keen to ask questions about the performance of ILSC and investigate areas where improvements can be made.' ‘Knowledge of how the ILSC operates in northern Australia will be critical. The Committee will also be interested to learn more about the Corporation’s engagement with remote and very remote communities.’ A program for the public hearing is available on the Committee’s website. Public hearing details Date: Thursday, 2 December 2021 Time: 9:00 am to 9:30 am AEDT Location: by teleconference Media enquiries Hon Warren Entsch MP warren.entsch.mp@aph.gov.au 02 6277 4803 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4162 jscna@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Northern Australia Committee has resumed its Inquiry into the Opportunities and Challenges of the Engagement of Traditional Owners in the Economic Development of Northern Australia with the aim to complete a report before the end of parliament.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 25 November 2021

The Northern Australia Committee has resumed its Inquiry into the Opportunities and Challenges of the Engagement of Traditional Owners in the Economic Development of Northern Australia with the aim to complete a report before the end of parliament. On Friday 26 November, the Committee will hear from representatives of Supply Nation. This opportunity will allow the Committee to understand the organisations perspectives on key opportunities and challenges that impact engagement of Traditional Owners, and to inquire about the specific role Supply Nation has in this area.  Committee Chair Warren Entsch stated that, ‘It is important to hear from key bodies that work in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander economic development as they are the ones that can give critical insights into key problems and opportunities.’ ‘It will be important to important to understand how effective Supply Nation has been in the field of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander development because it is importantly to understand the effect of such organisations to the progress of Indigenous economic development.’ A program for the public hearing is available on the Committee’s website. Public hearing details Date: Friday, 26 November 2021 Time: 10:00 am to 10:45 am AEDT Location: by teleconference Media inquiries Hon Warren Entsch MP warren.entsch.mp@aph.gov.au 02 6277 4803 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4162 jscna@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Indigenous Affairs Committee has today presented its report on Indigenous participation in employment and business. The report makes recommendations to enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in the Australian economy.

Media release issue date: Monday, 30 August 2021

The Indigenous Affairs Committee has today presented its report on Indigenous participation in employment and business. The report makes recommendations to enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in the Australian economy. Chair of the Committee, Julian Leeser MP, said that ‘one of Australia’s most important economic and social policy goals is to improve the economic participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Having a job or running a business can be life changing.’ ‘Witnesses told the Committee during the inquiry that owning a business gives people greater freedom, choice and independence. It can provide pride, purpose, a legacy, and a sense of achievement. Many of those sentiments are also true about having a job’, Mr Leeser said. The report notes the great success of the Federal Government’s Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) but that improvements could still be made. These include performance measures that go beyond just the number and value of awarded contracts to include employment outcomes and skills transfers for Indigenous people, the use of company profits and the ability of business to attract commercial contracts. Mr Leeser stated that ‘as the IPP becomes an established part of the culture of Commonwealth agencies, it is important to ensure the policy continues to serve its purpose of driving economic development and employment.’ The other central theme of this inquiry was the sustainable employment pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including a lack of access to relevant training, lack of culturally safe workplaces, a low availability of mentoring for young Indigenous job seekers, having a police record, and few long-term job opportunities. The Government currently has two major employment services available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander jobseekers: Jobactive which covers most of the Australian population and the Community Development Program (CDP) in remote areas. In addition, Vocation Training and Employment Centres (VTEC) work with Jobactive and CDP providers to help match, mentor, and place longer-term unemployed jobseekers. The Committee noted that the Government is changing its employment services policy for all Australian jobseekers with the New Employment Services Model to commence in July 2022. At the same time the Government has announced a new remote jobs program to replace CDP in 2023, to be codesigned with Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander communities. The Committee has made recommendations in relation to these new programs, including a national Indigenous Jobactive provider; greater collaboration and integration between Jobactive and VTEC; more incentives to place people into jobs long term; and better alignment with Jobactive and CDP activity requirements. Mr Leeser emphasised the Committee’s views in the report, stating: ‘There should be more community leadership in the design of activities under CDP; and a focus not on welfare, but on part-time work for part-time pay given the realities of the thin labour markets in remote Australia. There should also be a focus on the development of locally generated entrepreneurial activity.’ The report makes 17 recommendations to Government and can be accessed and downloaded from the inquiry website. Media inquiries Office of Julian Leeser MP Media contact: Mike Morrow 0400 909 151 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4559 IndigenousAffairs.Reps@aph.gov.au

Indigenous Affairs Committee to speak with representatives from the Department of Finance, Indigenous Business Australia, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, Supply Nation, Accor Hotel Group and Voyages Indigenous Tourism in the final series of public hearings for its Inquiry into Pathways and Participation Opportunities for Indigenous Australians in Employment and Business.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 21 July 2021

The Indigenous Affairs Committee will this week speak with representatives from the Department of Finance, Indigenous Business Australia, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, Supply Nation, Accor Hotel Group, and Voyages Indigenous Tourism in the final series of public hearings for its Inquiry into Pathways and Participation Opportunities for Indigenous Australians in Employment and Business. Committee Chair, Julian Leeser MP, noted that this discussion will offer key stakeholders an opportunity to make final observations on matters which have arisen throughout the inquiry. ‘The Committee looks forward in particular to discussing the merits of current Government procurement and employment policies, as well as suggested improvements which have been canvassed by various stakeholders.’ ‘The Committee has been focused throughout this inquiry on ways to overcome some of the barriers to employment and business for Indigenous Australians. These final hearings will shed further light on opportunities to do this through various Government programs’, Mr Leeser said. Public hearing details Date: Thursday, 22 July 2021 Time: 12.00 pm to 5.00 pm AEST A live audio stream of the hearing will be accessible at www.aph.gov.au/Watch_Read_Listen. A full program will be available at the inquiry website. Media enquiries Office of Julian Leeser MP Media contact: Ms Annie Phillips 02 9980 1822 Annie.phillips@aph.gov.au For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4559 IndigenousAffairs.Reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Indigenous Affairs Committee will hear from stakeholders in Far North Queensland and the Northern Territory this week as part of its inquiry into pathways and participation opportunities for Indigenous Australians in employment and business. Due to recent lockdowns, these hearings will be conducted by conference call.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 7 July 2021

The Indigenous Affairs Committee will hear from stakeholders in Far North Queensland and the Northern Territory this week as part of its inquiry into pathways and participation opportunities for Indigenous Australians in employment and business. Due to recent lockdowns, these hearings will be conducted by conference call. Committee Chair Julian Leeser MP noted that Land Councils, Aboriginal Corporations, Indigenous enterprises and business associations, as well as employment service providers and training organisations would be among the many stakeholders appearing before the Committee over three days of hearings. ‘These hearings will contribute significantly to the existing body of evidence for this inquiry. The Committee looks forward to discussing gaps and opportunities in the workforce and future growth sectors that could result in employment and enterprise options for Indigenous Australians,’ Mr Leeser said. ‘We will be particularly interested to hear from CDP and Jobactive providers about their experiences helping Indigenous people find work. It will also be very useful to learn about continuing challenges to Indigenous participation and how Government can better facilitate these opportunities.’ Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 7 July 2021 Time: 9.30am to 4.00pm AEST Date: Thursday, 8 July 2021 Time: 9.30am to 4.40pm AEST Date: Friday, 9 July 2021 Time: 9.20am to 4.50pm AEST A live audio stream of the hearing will be accessible at https://www.aph.gov.au/Watch_Read_Listen. Full programs will be available at the inquiry website. Media inquiries Office of Julian Leeser MP Media contact: Ms Annie Phillips (02) 9980 1822 Annie.phillips@aph.gov.au For background information Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 4559 IndigenousAffairs.Reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Indigenous Affairs Committee will this week conduct a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Departments of Health, Defence, Social Services, and Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications on the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) as part of its Inquiry into Pathways and Participation Opportunities for Indigenous Australians in Employment and Business.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 16 June 2021

The Indigenous Affairs Committee will this week conduct a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Departments of Health, Defence, Social Services, and Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications on the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) as part of its Inquiry into Pathways and Participation Opportunities for Indigenous Australians in Employment and Business. Committee Chair, Julian Leeser MP, noted that this discussion on the implementation of the IPP, and on the Indigenous suppliers contracted through this policy, will make a valuable contribution to the inquiry. ‘The Committee looks forward to discussing the goods and services that departments now procure from Indigenous businesses, and how the nature and volume of Indigenous suppliers may have changed, under the IPP.’ ‘We will also be interested to hear about the retention of Indigenous staff in these respective departments. It will be useful to consider how Indigenous employment opportunities could be improved across Government departments and agencies,’ Mr Leeser said. Public hearing details Date: Friday, 18 June 2021 Time: 1.30pm to 3.00pm AEST A live audio stream of the hearing will be accessible at https://www.aph.gov.au/Watch_Read_Listen. A full program will be available at the inquiry website. Media inquiries Office of Julian Leeser MP Media contact: Ms Annie Phillips (02) 9980 1822 Annie.phillips@aph.gov.au For background information Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 4559 IndigenousAffairs.Reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.