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

I thank Senator Crossin for the question and her ongoing commitment to Indigenous employment. Last week Minister Macklin announced the next phase of action for the Northern Territory under the stronger futures plan. The Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory plan will build on the work we have done over the past four years to close the gap on the unacceptable levels of disadvantage still faced by Indigenous people in the Northern Territory. The stronger futures plan focused on many areas of policy concern but, at its heart, outlined strong measures to ensure Indigenous children attend school.

During the extensive consultation that took place across the Territory, one of the issues that came up time and time again was access to employment and access to economic development opportunities. That is why last week Minister Macklin, Minister Burke and I announced the jobs package as part of the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory plan. It is a package of real jobs for Indigenous people. The package includes a job guarantee in the public service for all Indigenous students from Territory growth towns and remote service delivery sites who finish year 12. It is a job guarantee. It also contains a 'local jobs for local people' Indigenous traineeship measure which will provide job specific training and job shadowing for 100 job seekers over a year so that local people can take over service delivery jobs in their community.

Of course, as well, we are supporting local rangers, with 50 new Working on Country ranger positions in the Northern Territory. These positions will be ongoing. And we will support Indigenous Australians who have already gained employment and skills through projects like SEAM to transition to new employment opportunities. This is the work of the Gillard government, supporting Indigenous jobs across the Territory. It builds on the work through the shire package, which was a $4.8 million commitment made through the IEP, supporting 530 jobs in the shire. It builds on the work of the CDEP job conversion's 2,241 jobs— (Time expired)