Additional comments—Coalition Members and Senators

Inquiry into economic self-determination and opportunities for First Nations Australians

Comments

The Coalition members of this Committee welcomed this inquiry as it provided an opportunity to look at practical solutions to contribute to closing the economic gap that exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Australians do not want symbolic actions, they want outcomes. It is regrettable the Committee did not follow this, and too often recommended considering action rather than recommending the action directly.

The Coalition believes that the goal must be minimising over time the reliance on Commonwealth support and does not support those recommendations that seek to expand it.

The Coalition supports Recommendation 3 which encourages the Government to review the Indigenous Procurement Policy, introduced by the Coalition Government in 2015. The Coalition also supports refining the definition of an Indigenous business.

The Coalition laments the current lack of data on Indigenous businesses. The IPP allows for the collection of some data, but Supply Nation, a witness at this inquiry and certification body, only represents around one third of Indigenous businesses. The Coalition encourages the Government to pursue better data collection methods.

To expand the Indigenous business sector, specialists in business should be tasked with evaluating business startups. The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) should not be making decisions about any commercial business opportunities because its commercial assessments are not sufficiently robust. Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) would be better suited to this task.

Business owners should always have skin in the game. Loans rather than grants should always be preferred when government funding is provided to Indigenous businesses.

Superannuation is Australian’s money. It is not the Government’s to play with. The purpose of super funds is to maximise returns for their members to enjoy in retirement. Mandating super funds to invest in certain sectors of the economy clearly conflicts with this duty. The Coalition does not support this.

According to evidence submitted to the inquiry, in 2021, 42 per cent of Indigenous people owned a home compared to 68 per cent of the total population. The housing market has become increasingly tight and more unaffordable.

Targeted solutions for Indigenous Australians should include the Indigenous Home Ownership Program alongside associated action to unlock land that currently cannot be funded under community title. The Coalition’s $5 billion plan to boost home building across Australia will do this.

The Coalition will always support initiative that promote the ability of individuals to engage in private enterprise. The expansion of Prescribed Body Corporates (PBCs) goes against this principle and cannot be supported. This issue would be further explored by a full review of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) as proposed by the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians. It is disappointing the Report only asked the Government to consider a review and did not actually call for one.

In September 2024, Senators Liddle, Thorpe and Lambie moved a motion in the Senate providing for the establishment of the Select Committee on First Nations Representative Bodies. The Committee would inquire into and report on the role, governance and accountability of native title representative bodies and prescribed body corporates with reference to the effectiveness of the Native Title Act 1993. It is regrettable the motion was blocked by the Albanese Labor Government, the Australian Greens and Independent Senators Payman and Tyrrell.

Too many Indigenous children are developmentally behind when commencing school. It is one of the four Closing the Gap targets that is currently going backwards. Equally, school attendance rates in Indigenous majority remote areas, are concerningly low. Education and training are central to Indigenous advancement and are key enablers of Indigenous economic participation. The Report should have placed greater emphasis on this.

The Albanese Government has not been honest with the Australian people with respect to their renewables only strategy. This includes issues around cost, reliability, land use and longevity of the renewable energy infrastructure. The Coalition endorses an ‘all of the above’ strategy. This includes embracing zero-emissions nuclear power like our close allies the United Kingdom and the United States. Consideration should be given to Indigenous involvement in these projects, not just green energy.

UNDRIP has been considered in a previous inquiry undertaken by this Committee. A dissenting report was submitted by Coalition members. The Coalition does not support its ratification and implementation in Australia.

Recommendations

In light of these comments, the Coalition endorses the following recommendations:

Recommendation 1 (see Recommendation 2)

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government fund a national longitudinal Indigenous economic and business dataset to understand the composition and economic contribution of First Nations business to the Australian economy.

Recommendation 2 (see Recommendation 3)

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government review the Coalition’s Indigenous Procurement Policy and consider:

• an increase to the procurement target; and
• the definition of an Indigenous business, and mechanisms to identify and recognise businesses who exceed the targets (e.g. through tiered criteria).

Recommendation 3 (see Recommendation 4)

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government investigate the practice of black-cladding and policies to combat it.

Recommendation 4 (see Recommendation 5)

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government engages with state and territory governments on support for Indigenous Chambers of Commerce and similar business networks.

Recommendation 5 (see Recommendation 6)

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government establish a central resource with information on federal, state, and territory government business advisory services for First Nations businesses.

Recommendation 6 (see Recommendation 7)

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government pilot an entrepreneurial and business mentorship program with a particular focus on women, and explore how it can improve support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in business.

Recommendation 7 (see Recommendations 8 and 9)

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government strengthen existing, and develop new, instruments to enhance and fast track Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ access to finance and capital and consider impediments.

Recommendation 8 (see Recommendation 10)

The Committee recommends that, on completion of the Australian Law Reform Commission Future Acts Regime Review, the Australian Government should review in full the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).

Recommendation 9 (see Recommendations 13 and 14)

The Committee recommends the Australian Government task IP Australia as part of its current works to protect Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property, to investigate legislative and regulatory options to strengthen legal protections for intellectual and cultural property.

Recommendation 10 (see Recommendation 15)

The Committee recommends establishing and funding a centralised database or national registration system to substantiate Indigenous data and knowledge associated with genetic resources found in Australia.

Recommendation 11 (see Recommendation 16)

The Committee recommends the Australian Government work with the bush foods and fibre industry to establish a sustainable peak industry body.

Recommendation 12 (see Recommendation 20)

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government accelerate its work with the First Nations Economic Partnership and consider the experiences of international jurisdictions and their fiscal management powers and frameworks (for example, Canada).