Minister for Indigenous Australians
The Australian Government is committed to replacing the Community Development Program (CDP) with a program with real jobs, proper wages and decent conditions.
To begin discussions, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney today hosted the Remote Employment Roundtable in Canberra, in the lead up to the Jobs and Skills Summit.
The Roundtable was designed to bring a number of experts together to share their insights on employment challenges and labour markets in remote Australia, before more targeted consultations are held in remote communities.
The Minister hosted representatives from peak bodies, relevant alliances and unions, community and business leaders as well as a number of local councils, to have frank and open discussions on key employment challenges and opportunities in remote Australia.
As a first step towards a new program, the CDP will be adjusted to give providers the opportunity to work with remote communities to trial new approaches to real jobs.
The Roundtable discussion, community consultations and learnings from trialling new approaches will inform the new program.
Individuals, community organisations, service providers, and businesses can also provide views on the challenges, barriers and opportunities in remote employment through the National Indigenous Australians Agency website, www.niaa.gov.au/remote-employment
Quotes attributable to Minister Burney:
"We are moving decisively to replace the Community Development Program with a new program with real jobs, proper wages and decent conditions for Australians living remote communities.
"It is vital we put all the issues on the table, really debate them, and then in partnership, explore models that work for each community and their social and economic aspirations.
"We are deeply committed to being transparent with our program design and bringing First Nations perspectives into Government policy making, through forums like this Roundtable and further consultations."
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister Malarndirri McCarthy:
"The Coalition's Community Development Program has been an absolute failure and caused real hurt in communities across Australia.
"Developing a new program in partnership with First Nations people is a great first step towards providing hope for a better future and dignified work opportunities."
