Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

A key priority of this government is to end the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and the best way to do this, clearly, is by getting people into jobs. Employment for Indigenous Australians went backwards under those responsible for the Labor era. The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 to 64 who were employed fell by 6.3 per cent from 2008 to 2013. This compares with a one per cent rise in the same time period for non-Indigenous Australians. This highlighted the need for a new approach to secure employment outcomes for our first Australians. As Mr Forrest found in his review Creating Parity, released in August 2014, there has been too much training for training's sake. This government—and I am sure this parliament would agree—is ending the cycle, ensuring all Indigenous employment programs focus on training people into guaranteed jobs.