Senate debates

Thursday, 5 August 2021

Questions without Notice

Closing the Gap

2:56 pm

Photo of Michaelia CashMichaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Sullivan for the question and I acknowledge Senator O'Sullivan's previous role in working with the Minderoo Foundation in particular and his dedication to ensuring that Indigenous people were given every opportunity to get a job. Senator O'Sullivan clearly understands the benefits of upskilling and of re-skilling to ensure that people are equipped with what they need, those necessary skills, to move into employment. Today's release of the Closing the Gap Implementation Plan was well and truly an important moment for our nation, but it also shows the important work that all partners of this historic agreement are doing to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. In the 2021-22 budget the Morrison government delivered funding for substantial reforms to help Indigenous Australians get into quality and long-lasting jobs, both now and into the future. That is why we're delivering a $243.6 million new Indigenous skills and jobs advancement package. This is all about improving the economic, the social and the educational outcomes for Indigenous Australians. What this investment includes is around $42.8 million per annum, which will then grow to $60 million per annum in future years, for the Indigenous advancement strategy for a new skills and employment program. The program will build on the most successful elements of the current Indigenous-specific employment programs and focus, so importantly, on upskilling Indigenous Australians for in-demand jobs—we want them to get into work—and also putting in place those mechanisms to support them into employment.

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