Plan to boost Aboriginal employment

BY PATRICK BILLINGS
The city’s indigenous leaders have cautiously welcomed the Federal Government’s plan to use its $76 billion nation-building infrastructure program to tackle Aboriginal unemployment.
Mick Mundine from the Aboriginal Housing Company endorsed the Government’s plan but is wary that it may not deliver on the promise.
‘Governments promise you everything but you end up getting nothing,’ Mr Mundine said.
Mr Mundine said he also supported attempts to end reliance on welfare.
‘A lot of people have got stuck in that welfare trap and it has poisoned our minds,’ he said.
Members of Sydney’s Indigenous community are helping upgrade Redfern Park and Redfern Oval as part of a City of Sydney initiative to employ and improve the skills of local Aboriginal tradesmen.
Twelve Aboriginal plumbers, labourers, electricians, concreters and landscapers have been employed to work on various components of the project.
The upgrade includes new public art, children’s play equipment, a new grandstand and an upgraded oval.
Meanwhile, senior project manager of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority (RWA) Denny Hall said the Federal Government plan has its full support.
‘If the Government applied our Indigenous employment model to the infrastructure program it could generate 80,000 jobs relatively quickly,’ she said.
Ms Hall said it was a positive signal from the Rudd Government, adding that indigenous affairs had been set back 10 years under the Howard government.
‘We look forward to any increased funding because the structure and partnerships, with private enterprise, are already in place,’ Ms Hall said.
Despite the unemployment rate for Aborigines in the City of Sydney hovering at 16 per cent ‘ compared to just five per cent for the city as a whole ‘ the RWA has created 250 jobs since 2006. Ms Hall said the model’s success is its structure.
‘The critical thing about our model is that it uses Aboriginal trainers, is locally placed and it impacts on other areas,’ she said.
‘When you focus on employment other areas of disadvantage improve, including drugs and alcohol.’
Federal Minister Anthony Albanese has asked Infrastructure Australia to investigate how future public works projects could improve Indigenous employment opportunities.
‘We are not talking about fixing potholes, we are talking about projects of national significance,’ a spokesman for the Minister said.
‘Between now and March we are looking at how the North West Metro construction in Sydney could play a role.’
With a $12 billion price tag, the controversial North West Metro would be the largest capital works project in NSW.
The NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Paul Lynch, said the State Government was already implementing ways to boost Aboriginal employment.
‘Job Compacts help build Aboriginal employment and encourage young school leavers to get into jobs and training,’ Mr Lynch said.
‘By encouraging local businesses, industry groups and government agencies to work together, we can break down barriers to employment for Aboriginal people,’ he said.
The City of Sydney recently received an extra $471,210, under the Roads to Recovery project.
A spokesman for the Lord Mayor was unable to comment on how the money would be spent but said council has programs to employ indigenous workers on infrastructure projects in Glebe Point Road, Redfern Street and Redfern Park.