June 2007
Canberra
© Commonwealth of Australia 2007
ISBN 978-0-642-78958-7 (Printed Version)
ISBN 978-0-642-78959-4 (HTML Version)
Contents
Foreword
Membership of the Committee
Terms of reference
List of abbreviations
Recommendations
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 The positives
Chapter 3 Economic independence
Chapter 4 Leading by example
Chapter 5 Education and training
Chapter 6 The impediments
Chapter 7 Role of government
Minority Report
Appendix A - Submissions
Appendix B - Public Hearings
Appendix C - Exhibits
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Foreword
The Positives
The Aboriginal face on the Australian $50 note is David Unaipon,
author, inventor and sometimes thought of as "Australia's
Leonardo". As a remarkable example of the capacity of Indigenous
people, I am sure that there are many David Unaipons across
Australia and I dedicate this foreword to his memory and the future
creativity of every Indigenous Australian.
In discussing our request to the Minister of the need for a
positive approach to Indigenous matters, employment was an area
where progress could be demonstrated. At a time of strong economic
performance at the national level and with workforce shortages a
growing reality, the opportunities for further development of
Indigenous employment appeared to be significant.
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Over the past two years we were fortunate to share the views and
better understand the outcomes for many individuals, companies and
the wider community in this vital human activity.
The central role of work and the workplace in most Australian's
lives is something that we perhaps take for granted - but the
lessons of the past two years remind all of us that the variation
in workforce participation by Indigenous people is very much a
result of a complex set of factors which some achieve with
significant success and others have a more limited result.
The above is very much a two way street with some employers leading
the way with many employees open to opportunities and both able to
achieve great results.
The recurring theme of many people who presented before the
Committee was the overwhelming impact of welfare policies as a
deterrent to sustainable employment. The need for Government
policies to strike a better balance between the incentives for work
and the incentives to be distracted by welfare is vital.
Our inquiry attempted to seek out the committed employers and
employees and understand their views and what motivated them to
achieve and these experiences are documented from that perspective.
Their views are the basis of current progress and I thank them for
their willingness to share with the Parliament their experiences in
the hope that policy makers will better understand the value that
employers and employees found for their general and economic
well-being.
I acknowledge and thank my fellow Committee Members, all staff for
their patience and tolerance and all members of the Australian
community who participated in our inquiry to offer not only a
better employment outcome for more Australians but to further
unlock the economic future for Indigenous people.
Mr Barry Wakelin
MP
Chairman
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Membership of the
Committee
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Chairman
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Mr Barry Wakelin MP
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Deputy Chair
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The Hon Dr Carmen Lawrence MP
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Members
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Ms Annette Ellis MP
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Mr Peter Garrett MP
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Mr Andrew Laming MP (from 28 February 2006)
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Mr Andrew Robb MP (until 28 February 2006)
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The Hon Peter Slipper MP
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The Hon Warren Snowdon MP
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Dr Andrew Southcott MP
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The Hon Wilson Tuckey MP
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The Hon Danna Vale MP
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Committee Secretariat
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Secretary
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Ms Joanne Towner
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Inquiry Secretary
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Ms Cheryl Scarlett
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| Research Officers |
Ms Kate Tubridy (8/9/2005 - 16/5/2006)
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Ms Samantha Mannette (from 8/9/2005 to 26/5/2006)
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Ms Zoe Smith (from 8/8/2006 to 11/11/2006)
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Ms Kylie Weston-Scheuber (from 28/11/2005 to
24/2/2006) |
| Administrative Officers |
Ms Kate Tremble (from 27/6/2005 to
15/10/2006) |
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Ms Jazmine De Roza (from 1/2/2005 to
6/11/2006) |
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Ms Melita Caulfield (from 19/10/2006) |
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Ms Isabella Johnston (from 27/11/2006 to
20/5/2007) |
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Terms of Reference
That the Committee inquire into positive factors and examples
amongst Indigenous communities and individuals, which have improved
employment outcomes in both the public and private sectors; and
- recommend to the government ways this can inform future policy
development; and
- assess what significant factors have contributed to those
positive outcomes identified, including what contribution practical
reconciliation has made.
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ABS
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Australian Bureau of Statistics |
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ACCI
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Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
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AEC
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Aboriginal Education Council |
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AES
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Aboriginal Employment Strategy |
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AFL
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Australian Football League |
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ALPA
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Arnhemland Progress Association |
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ALTA-1
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Altering Lives One at a Time Program |
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ANZ
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Australian and New Zealand Banking Group |
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APS
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Australian Public Service |
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AQF
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Australian Qualifications Framework |
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BAC
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Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation |
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BCC
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Brisbane City Council |
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BUC
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Breaking the Unemployment Cycle |
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CAAMA
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Central Australian Aboriginal Media
Association |
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CAEPR
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Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research |
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CDEP
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Community Development and Employment Projects |
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CDRHC
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Cairns and District Regional Housing
Corporation |
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CEO
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Chief Executive Officer |
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COAG
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Council of Australian Governments
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DEST
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Department of Education, Science and Training
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DEWR
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Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
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DFAT
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Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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FaCS
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Department of Family and Community Services
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HECS
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Higher Education Contribution Scheme
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HOP
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Home Ownership Program
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IBA
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Indigenous Business Australia
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ICC
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Indigenous Coordination Centre
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IEC
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Indigenous Employment Centre
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IEP
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Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships
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IHANT
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Indigenous Housing Authority Northern Territory
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ILC
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Indigenous Land Corporation
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ILUA
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Indigenous Land Use Agreement
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IPP
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Indigenous Pastoral Program
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JYP
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Jobs for Young People
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KBN
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Koori Business Network
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LDC
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Larrakia Development Corporation
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MATES
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Mentoring Aboriginal Training and Employment Scheme
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MCA
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Minerals Council of Australia
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MOU
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Memoranda of Understanding
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NATSISS
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National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey
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NGO
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Non-government organisation
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NLC
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Northern Land Council
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NORFORCE
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North West Mobile Force
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NTEU
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National Tertiary Education Union
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NTPS
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Northern Territory Public Service
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OAM
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Order of Australia
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OIPC
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Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination
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PM&C
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Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
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RTO
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Registered Training Organisation
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SACOME
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South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy
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SRA
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Shared Responsibility Agreement
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STEP
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Structured Training and Employment Programme
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TAFE
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Technical and Further Education
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TIC
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Tasmanian Investment Corporation
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VET
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Vocational Education and Training
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WELL
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Workplace English Language and Literacy Program
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YES
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Youth Employment Scheme
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List of
recommendations
Construction and maintenance programs
Recommendation 1
The Committee recommends that the Minister propose that the
corporate governance procedures and the sound business principles
under which the current Board of the Cairns and District Regional
Housing Corporation are operating (noting the average of 70 per
cent local Indigenous labour component in their maintenance and
building programs) be considered as a model practice for other
Indigenous housing and tenancy corporations (paragraph 3.13).
Recommendation 2
The Committee recommends that all Federal Government
construction contracts in regional areas give due recognition to
aspirational imperatives for Indigenous employment outcomes
(paragraph 3.22).
Tender requirements
Recommendation 3
The Committee recommends that the Federal Government amend
government service delivery tender requirements and contracting
processes to recognise and encourage Indigenous involvement
(paragraph 3.23).
Indigenous employment by small businesses
Recommendation 4
The Committee recommends that the Federal Government ensure that
small businesses employing Indigenous people receive comparable
support to that received by the large business sector (paragraph
3.63).
Micro-finance
Recommendation 5
The Committee recommends that the relevant Government
departments that administer programs providing micro-finance and
small business assistance to Indigenous people, actively promote
such programs and facilitate better access to that support
(paragraph 3.85)
Funding for mentors
Recommendation 6
The Committee recommends that the Federal Government provide
adequate resources for mentoring in addition to the funding
provided for training and employment of Indigenous Australians
(paragraph 4.39).
Education
Recommendation 7
The Committee recommends that given the importance of education
to future employment possibilities, the Government consider
requests from Indigenous communities in relation to their preferred
options for stronger incentives to encourage school attendance
(paragraph 5.32).
Recommendation 8
The Committee recommends that the Federal Government evaluate
and fund a range of options to improve educational outcomes
including but not limited to, Indigenous teaching aides, tutors and
individualised learning plans (paragraph 5.41).
National Indigenous Cadet Scheme
Recommendation 9
The Committee recommends that the Government:
- review the National Indigenous Cadet Scheme to identify the
most productive avenues for its expansion;
- actively promote cadetships to Indigenous students at the
matriculation level as a means of continuing their education;
and
- provide public service rotational opportunities for Indigenous
cadets in Indigenous organisations and in the private sector
(paragraph 5.89).
Work experience
Recommendation 10
The Committee recommends that the Office of Indigenous Policy
Coordination develop a model which allows Indigenous employees of
non-government organisations to experience work within the public
sector (paragraph 5.93).
Public servants in regional and remote areas
Recommendation 11
The Committee recommends that the terms and conditions offered
to all Government employees in communities not disadvantage local
employees compared to those recruited from elsewhere (paragraph
6.24).
Private sector Indigenous employment
Recommendation 12
The Committee recommends that the best practice models within
industries like the mining industry be understood, promoted and
encouraged by Government as one of the best models to achieve
greater Indigenous participation in the workforce (paragraph
7.128).
Recommendation 13
The Committee recommends that the Government promote the
Memorandum of Understanding of the Minerals Council of Australia
and the Indigenous Land Corporation models as best practice which
could be adopted by other sectors (paragraph 7.130).
Recommendation 14
The Committee recommends that the Government disseminate
innovative strategies with respect to Indigenous employment within
and between public and private sectors and the implementation of
best practice within the public service where appropriate
(paragraph 7.131).