$100 Million Stimulus for Indigenous Businesses and Jobs in the NT

Media release - Minister Wyatt

The Australian Government is creating jobs and driving economic recovery through COVID-19 and is continually working through a number of avenues to cushion the impact of the pandemic on all Australians.

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, today announced a $100 million Northern Territory (NT) Indigenous Economic Stimulus Package, developed in partnership with the four Northern Territory Land Councils, to provide immediate support for Aboriginal businesses and jobs in the NT. 

The Package will be delivered over two financial years with $60 million in tranche one and $40 million in tranche two. 

“Indigenous businesses in the NT are struggling and the Morrison Government is committed to supporting their recovery through the COVID-19,” Minister Wyatt said.

“Working with the NT Land Councils, we are releasing $100 million from the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA) for Aboriginal people to create and sustain jobs through capital injections in ‘shovel-ready’ economic, social and infrastructure projects.” 

“The money will flow quickly through targeted investments that will connect Aboriginal people to pastoral, tourism, gas and mining opportunities, and help businesses prepare for an expected surge in domestic tourism over the coming period.”

“This is part of our ongoing work to empower Aboriginal people in the NT to build economic opportunities and activate the great potential of their land.”

The funding will be provided to Aboriginal businesses and infrastructure projects through the NT Land Councils, which will identify projects that are ready to commence now so the funding can flow into communities as soon as possible.

Chair of the Northern Land Council, Samuel Bush-Blanasi, said the package is an example of Aboriginal people and Government coming together in shared decision-making.

“The four Land Councils in the NT are strong organisations that are well connected to all of their communities and know how ABA funding can be used effectively,” Mr Bush-Blanasi said.

“By investing in small scale Aboriginal-owned infrastructure projects with short or no lead time, we can have an immediate and lasting effect on our people.”

Chair of the Central Land Council, Sammy Wilson, said the funding will be a welcome boost across the NT.

“This package will see projects that are ready to go be delivered, such as improving homeland infrastructure, upgrading ranger accommodation to look after country and create more jobs, building or repairing fences, or maintenance projects, all drawing on an Indigenous supply chain,” Mr Wilson said.

For tranche 1, the Northern and Central Land Council regions will each have $22 million available, and $8 million is being made available for each of the Tiwi Land Council and the Anindilyakwa Land Council regions. 

Following this, tranche 2 will provide $14.7 million each to the Northern and Central Land Council regions and $5.3 million to the Tiwi Land Council and the Anindilyakwa Land Council regions.

This package builds on the $123 million national stimulus package provided by the Government to support Indigenous Australians in April 2020. This included $10 million for the four NT Land Councils to support their response to COVID-19.