Australian Government response to the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs report: Inquiry into economic self-determination and opportunities for First Nations Australians

The Australian Government thanks and acknowledges the work of the Committee and secretariat in producing this report and its recommendations, and would further like to acknowledge the work of First Nations partners and organisations that are advancing the economic empowerment agenda.

The First Nations economy has a rich and enduring tradition, and today’s policy settings should be viewed in their proper context. First Nations people have exercised economic self-determination through the trading of goods, services and information, both domestically and internationally, for tens of thousands of years. The strength and resilience of the modern First Nations economy derives from the strength, resilience, creativity and resourcefulness of First Nations people.

These strengths are obvious when one considers the numbers. First Nations businesses are thriving – they contribute over $16 billion to Australia’s economy and pay out more than $4.2 billion in wages to 116,000 people across 13,000 businesses every year. The community-controlled sector is also a significant employer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all the while providing vital support to over 500,000 First Nations Australians in all states and territories. Furthermore, the First Nations Estate equates to a legal right and interest to around 60 per cent of the Australian land mass and approximately 43 per cent of clean energy projects required to meet Australia’s net zero commitments will need to be situated on the First Nations estate.

The Government recognises these strengths as a solid foundation with which to work towards greater economic empowerment of First Nations Australians. Increased economic opportunity can play a major role in reducing outcomes gaps across all aspects of policy, in all walks of life. As agreed in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, economic policy – like all policy, is done best in Partnership.

To this end the Government, working in partnership with First Nations representatives has established a First Nations Economic Partnership. The Government, guided by the Partnership, will develop a First Nations Economic Framework that will draw together the fundamentals needed to drive Government action across portfolios.

The Australian Government is pleased to provide the responses outlined in the below report.