Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment Participation, Senator Arbib. Given the government’s commitment—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The interjections are chewing up question time quite unnecessarily.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the Rudd government’s commitment to closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage and more specifically to halve the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians by 2018, can the minister advise the Senate on some of the programs the government has in place to assist Indigenous Australians to obtain employment? What are some of the outcomes that have been achieved as a result of these programs?

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Moore for that question and for the work she has done and her committee has done across the party divide in terms of Indigenous affairs and Indigenous employment. Last week I outlined to the Senate the changes in the ABS data regarding unemployment and that unemployment had decreased in this country to 5.2 per cent, that we had seen 36,000 full-time jobs created and also a big increase in the number of hours worked. At the same time as that, though, I have a great concern and I know the government has a great concern about the high rates of Indigenous unemployment. We know that the rate of Indigenous unemployment is three times—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Sherry! Senator Cormann, I remind you that shouting across the chamber is disorderly. The minister is entitled to be heard.

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, while unemployment has been dropping, at the same time Indigenous unemployment is obviously still concerning. We have seen an increase in Indigenous unemployment, there is no doubt about that, during the global financial crisis. That is why the government has been working so hard with the corporate sector, with Andrew Forrest and the Australian Employment Covenant in trying to turn this around. It is also not just with business. We are working closely with training organisations—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would have thought on an issue this important, an issue that I think has had bipartisan support up until now, that senators on the other side would actually listen to this. In fact, they want to ridicule efforts that are taking place across the community. In terms of Job Services Australia, there is a great deal of work—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Arbib, resume your seat. When there is silence, we will proceed.

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Since 1 July 2009 almost 29,000 Indigenous Australians have been placed in jobs by Job Services Australia—that is, the reformed Job Services Australia which got underway on 1 July. Through the Indigenous Employment Program, the $750 million program that has been reformed, there have been 18,000 training and employment placements since 1 July. The government is also working on the other side to increase the number of Indigenous businesses. That is why we are working with organisations such as the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council, AIMSC, to increase— (Time expired)

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Minister Arbib, particularly in the area of the public sector, what is the government doing to make employment grow and are there any programs in place to encourage young Indigenous people to join the public service?

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for the question. There has been a big improvement in the work that is being undertaken by the private sector, and government needs to do its bit too. Government across the country needs to do its bit to lift its level of Indigenous employment. We have set a target of 2.7 per cent of the public sector being made up of Indigenous employees by 2015. As yet, all governments are far from meeting that target. To reach this target different departments and agencies have been working with the Australian Public Service Commission and my department to develop strategies to increase Indigenous employment. Also, departments have been working with Reconciliation Australia, setting up reconciliation action plans and putting in place targets but also strategies for cultural change to ensure that full organisations are getting behind this important work. We are also working with training organisations such as the Aboriginal Employment Strategy, AES, and with people like Dick Estens and Danny Lester. Real traineeships for young Indigenous people in school— (Time expired)

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I know that there are over a hundred Indigenous students in Parliament House taking part in a work experience with government program, and I think some of them are now in the gallery. Minister, can you please provide the Senate with some further information about this program? Who is involved, what will the students be doing when they are visiting us and what sorts of things will they learn while they are with us?

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Under the Learn Earn Legend! voluntary work experience program, we have a hundred young Indigenous students from across the country working right now in MPs’ and senators’ offices but also in departmental agencies learning about what life is like in the political system and what life is like in government. There are a number of these young work experience students in the gallery right now. I thank them for the work they have done and for the efforts they have taken to get here from across the country. From WA in particular there are 31 trainees. I say to the two work experience students from my office, Dale and Alice: it has been fantastic having you and thank you very much for being here in the Senate today. This is not just about providing a pathway into the public sector—providing access to traineeships, apprenticeships and graduate positions—but also about mentoring and about providing friendships and acquaintances— (Time expired)