My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. October is Indigenous Business Month, a month to celebrate, showcase and, most importantly, purchase from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses. Can the minister outline the importance of First Nations businesses to the economy and how the Albanese Labor government is supporting them to grow?

I thank Senator Stewart for the question. I know she's a fierce advocate for Indigenous businesses. Every time I'm in Victoria, Senator Stewart takes me to a new business, and I certainly look forward to next week, where we will visit some more.

October is the month to get shopping at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, and you aren't short of options. I can tell the Senate there are more than 13,000 First Nations businesses around the country. They're generating more than $16 billion in revenue. They're paying $4.2 billion in wages and employing over 116,000 people in the economy, and I can tell you the Albanese Labor government is supporting them every step of the way. It's this government that has strengthened the Indigenous Procurement Policy, which is driving government purchasing towards First Nations businesses and supporting economic empowerment for individuals, families and communities.

And we're backing First Nations women in business, too. Our new business coaching program, delivered by Indigenous Business Australia, is providing tailored coaching, mentoring and business capability development opportunities for First Nations women. This program is supporting First Nations women to turn business ideas into successful new enterprises. And there's more. We've made a $20.5 million investment in Indigenous business and employment hubs, and these hubs are located in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin and Alice Springs. The hubs offer First Nations businesses and entrepreneurs tailored support to help them and their businesses thrive. October might be Indigenous Business Month, but the Albanese Labor government backs Indigenous businesses all year round.

Senator Stewart, first supplementary?

Thank you, Minister. The Albanese Labor government's Indigenous business hubs are providing on-the-ground assistance for Indigenous businesses to thrive. What has been the feedback about the experiences of businesses who are using those hubs?

Our Indigenous business and employment hubs are already having a real impact. They've supported 3,000 First Nations businesses on their journeys with coaching and mentoring, connections to financial services, links to industry and access to workshops and networking opportunities. One of those businesses is Allpro Plumbing Solutions, which I visited in Western Sydney. Tyson Hubbard, who owns the business, has been actively supported by the Yarpa Indigenous business hub, where he's completed multiple business training and development workshops. We've funded the Larrakia Cultural Centre in Darwin, too, which is fast becoming a hive of Indigenous business success. It was good to take Senator Gallagher there last month for Black Coffee's Indigenous business networking event. We're a government that certainly supports First Nations businesses.

Not if they're in trusts.

Order! Do you think we could just have one set of questions and answers without the constant interjection? Let's try really hard. Senator Stewart, second supplementary?

The Albanese Labor government is achieving results with business hubs and the Indigenous Procurement Policy. Are there any obstacles standing in the way of the government's approach to economic empowerment for First Nations people?

Thank you, Senator. Yes, there certainly are. The Albanese Labor government will always celebrate the achievements of First Nations people and work with them, whether it's in business, in the arts or in education, and we'll back that success with investment and support, like our women-in-business program, our strengthening of the Indigenous Procurement Policy and our business hubs. These are investments that are having a real impact on the lives of First Nations people. Those opposite are very good at identifying a problem, and we never hear a solution from them. In fact, we've been accused of being too ambitious and not having enough ambition. Their entire policy offering for First Nations people at the last election was about whether they would stand in front of an Aboriginal flag: One flag? Three flags? That was their policy. While they try to out 'One Nation' One Nation, we're getting on with improving the lives of First Nations people in this country.