Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Hansard source

Last Friday marked the second anniversary of the Australian Employment Covenant. It was established as a partnership between the private sector, led by Andrew Forrest, and, of course, the government. The target of 50,000 job commitments was set two years ago and a great deal of work has gone on since then by the covenant but also by the government to work with corporate Australia to try and encourage businesses to take on Indigenous employees. I am happy to report to the Senate the success of the Australian Employment Covenant. The target was 50,000 jobs and we have been able to secure 55,000 job commitments. Those com­mitments will be filled over a number of years. We have said on a number of occasions that those commitments are over years. Companies have said to us that they will take these jobs over one-year, three-year, five-year or seven-year tenures. Work will now be done to fill those jobs. (Time expired)