On Tuesday 11 May 2021, the Treasurer, the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, delivered the 2021-22 Federal Budget.

The Budget included a number of important measures for the National Indigenous Australians Agency and its portfolio bodies, including the introduction of a new remote jobs program to replace the Community Development Program (CDP) in 2023. This new program will be developed and piloted in a number of sites across Australia later this year.

The Indigenous Advancement Strategy will receive An additional $84.9 million in 2021-22 to meet the costs associated with the increased number of job seekers being referred to the CDP as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government has announced an Indigenous Skills and Jobs Advancement Package to help communities recover from COVID-19, support economic growth, and provide jobs on country.

This package includes:

• $42.8 million (building to $60 million per year) for a new Indigenous Skills and Employment Program. From 1 July 2022, this program will focus on upskilling Indigenous Australians for in-demand jobs and supporting them to gain employment.
• $10 million over two years to support existing Indigenous enterprises and community organisations in the primary industry and land management sectors to expand or improve viability.
• $5 million investment in remote stores to improve food security, strengthen supply chains and improve storage, addressing issues that came to light during the pandemic.
• Increasing support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women to $63.5 million to support their participations in girls academies throughout Australia.
• $36.7 million over the forward estimates to expand support provided to Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) that hold and protect native title rights and interests, building their capacity to more effectively engage with investors and others on economic development opportunities.

The Government is also committing to developing a second pass business case for a Ngurra Cultural Precinct – National Resting Place. The business case will provide costings and site options for consideration.

Further measures will be released mid-year in line with the delivery of the Commonwealth’s first Closing the Gap Implementation Plan, which the Government is developing in partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and Indigenous Australians.

Further information on this year’s Budget is available in the 2021-22 Portfolio Budget Statements and the media release from the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP.