Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the committee for the opportunity to make an opening statement. The Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio has 13 agencies that receive funding from the government. The 2017-18 budget provides the portfolio ordinary annual funding of $5.5 billion in 2017-18 and an average staffing level of 5,027 people. In the 2017-18 budget, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet itself has funding for 13 new measures, ordinary annual funding of $2 billion in 2017-18, and an average staffing level of just over 2,000. It also has a relatively stable level of funding throughout the forward years.

The three key principles that underpinned the 2017-18 budget were fairness, opportunity and security. The Indigenous-specific outcome 2 initiatives supported in this budget need to be seen through that lens. The government is committed to working with Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders, and the Indigenous affairs measures in the 2017-18 budget demonstrate that continued investment. The budget facilitates the delivery of innovative and effective support for Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs: $146.9 million over four years will fund business support for the Indigenous entrepreneurs measure to provide services to businesses including workshops, business planning, and training. It will also facilitate tailored loan products, including capital assistance for Indigenous entrepreneurs who would like to establish or grow their businesses—and we want to see much more of that. The government will also provide $52.9 million over four years from 2017-18 to implement a whole-of-government research and evaluation strategy for the policies and programs affecting Indigenous Australians. The cost for that will be met from the existing resources of the Indigenous Advancement Strategy. As the Closing the Gap initiative approaches the 10-year mark, it is timely to reflect on what has worked over the past decade and where greater effort is required, so this funding sees $40 million to strengthen the evaluation of the Indigenous Advancement Strategy. It sees $10 million to establish an Indigenous research fund that will add to the Indigenous policy evidence base, and $2.9 million will go to the Productivity Commission to enhance its role in Indigenous policy evaluation and to expand the commission to include an additional commissioner with relevant experience in Indigenous policy. What gets measured gets done—so a real focus on understanding which parts of our programs are working best is crucial to continually improving what we do.

Two Indigenous portfolio bodies reported measures in the 2017-18 budget. The Torres Strait Regional Authority will receive $3 million over two years for the construction of fit-for-purpose office accommodation on Thursday Island from the Public Service Modernisation Fund. This will replace the current facility, which has aged considerably. This budget will showcase sustainable design in remote areas, incorporating solar and battery technologies, sustainable water use and other environmental design technologies. Indigenous Business Australia redirected $146.9 million for business support for Indigenous entrepreneurs. This is an extension measure from its Business Development and Assistance Program to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. As I mentioned earlier, this funding will be used to support Indigenous entrepreneurs who would like to establish and grow their businesses. I thank the committee for this opportunity to set out the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet's outcome 2 Indigenous Affairs budget measures, and to give a brief insight into how they will benefit our community and economy.

See this speech in context