Bright future for Indigenous and multicultural communities

Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and multicultural communities will benefit from the 2014-15 State Budget’s strong plan for a brighter future.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said today’s Budget carefully continued boosting frontline services such as education, health and transport, while not introducing or raising any new taxes or reducing services.

“This budget outlines our plan for securing our finances by making the strongest and smartest choice to reduce debt so we can pay for our future needs,” Mr Nicholls said.

“The Queensland Government is continuing to revitalise frontline services with a further $8 million in support for Cape York Welfare Reform efforts to continue the program till December 2015.”

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs Glen Elmes said welfare reform efforts aimed to change behaviours and build more positive remote Indigenous communities.

“The reform program has been running in four communities since 2008 as a trial, and now it’s time to spread the benefits of the program to other communities,” Mr Elmes said.

“I want all Indigenous communities to have the benefits of better services and greater social cohesion.

“An evaluation last year found that progress had been made in some areas, but also concluded more effort is required in the areas of economic development and home ownership, and engagement of high school age children in ongoing education.

“These issues aren’t specific to the four welfare reform communities of Aurukun, Hope Vale, Coen and Mossman Gorge.”

Mr Elmes said the Budget also included funding of $1 million to support community harmony, celebration of cultural diversity and building skills for migrants and refugees across Queensland.

“The funding is for Valuing Diversity Grants which fund multicultural events and for Economic Participation Grants for projects that support employment and business creation projects,” he said.

“The events that are funded through the Valuing Diversity Grants strengthen the understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity and its benefits in the wider community.

“Our Economic Participation Grants further support our multicultural communities by backing projects that encourage economic participation as well as business development for Queenslanders from culturally diverse backgrounds.”

Other portfolio initiatives funded in the Budget include:

• transfer ownership of state land and National Parks to Aboriginal people through the Cape York Peninsula Tenure Resolution Program, providing opportunities to carry out land management, grazing, tourism and other enterprises
• invest $1.25 million to upgrade the Government-owned and operated Kowanyama Retail Store to improve food quality, health and safety and operational efficiency
• deliver planning schemes, development approvals and early civil works/sub-divisions ahead of the major housing construction program in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities

Mr Elmes said the Newman Government was focussed ondirecting funding towards practical programs and services to improve the lives of Australia’s oldest cultural groups and our very newest.

[ENDS] 3 June 2014

Media Contact: Peter McCarthy 0408 835 548