PREMIER ANNOUNCES MORE PRACTICAL STEPS TO HELP INDIGENOUS QUEENSLANDERS IMPROVE THEIR LIVES
Published Thursday, 09 August, 2007 at 10:08 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Premier Peter Beattie has tabled a new package of initiatives to help Indigenous Queenslander’s to gain employment and promote economic development in their communities.
The strategy includes three major initiatives:
• Indigenous Economic Development and Employment - making it real which focuses on delivering Indigenous economic development, jobs and enterprise by assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders to engage with the real economy.
• Looking After Country Together, a new framework to improve Indigenous access to and management of traditional land and sea country. In practical terms this will help create employment and business development by harnessing the knowledge local people bring to the protection and development of the natural resources in their area.
• Draft Cape York and Torres Strait Tourism Development Action Plan, released today for comment, the plan will support sustainable Indigenous tourism opportunities and see them thrive. As part of the plan the Queensland Government will appoint tourism development officers in Cape York and the Torres Strait.
“These initiatives follow last month's signing of the historic Indigenous Partnership Agreement and the agreement with the Queensland Resources Council at Yarrabah,” Mr Beattie said.
"At that signing I also announced that we are moving ahead to reform land tenure controls in indigenous communities to make it easier to provide quality housing and new business opportunities.
“Today’s package builds on those initiatives.
“In practical terms, we expect this package of initiatives to boost local jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: by better delivering government services; in business enterprises related to tourism, the arts and on traditional land and in the private sector and in industries such as mining.
“In addition, the Looking After Country Together framework will help us to work with local communities to improve Indigenous access to and management of traditional land and sea country.
"As a sign of our commitment I am establishing 20 new Indigenous ranger positions.
“This is the first phase of our election commitment to create up to 100 Indigenous rangers to help manage and protect wild rivers throughout Queensland.
“I am also pleased to be releasing the draft Cape York and Torres Strait Tourism Development Action Plan for consultation.
“As part of that plan two tourism development officers will be employed in Cape York and the Torres Strait.
“Tourism represents real opportuntity for Cape York and Torres Strait communities. Projects like the Mapoon Aboriginal community’s turtle conservation project can also be used to attract tourists.
Mr Beattie said the Queensland Government remained committed to further skilling, business development and growth in Cape York.
"These initiatives complement our ongoing commitments to skilling and business development, and will be further driven next month by a Ministerial roundtable with leading Queensland employers.
Mr Beattie said the plan would:
• create real employment, training, and career path opportunities;
• generate opportunities for locally-owned and managed businesses;
• ensure Cape York and Torres Strait Islander culture, traditions and history is preserved; and
• ensure sustainable management of land and sea ecosystems within Cape York and the Torres Strait.
“Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait are recognised as two of the most spectacular and culturally important tourism regions in Queensland,” Mr Beattie said.
“Research shows international and domestic tourists are looking for authentic nature-based and cultural tourism experiences, and Cape York and the Torres Strait have great potential to assist in fulfilling this growing market need.
“This plan focuses on real opportunities, and the State Government will work with industry and local communities to identify and develop tourism ventures which will provide employment, training and career path opportunities,” the Premier said.
Thursday August 9, 2007
For more information: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
The strategy includes three major initiatives:
• Indigenous Economic Development and Employment - making it real which focuses on delivering Indigenous economic development, jobs and enterprise by assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders to engage with the real economy.
• Looking After Country Together, a new framework to improve Indigenous access to and management of traditional land and sea country. In practical terms this will help create employment and business development by harnessing the knowledge local people bring to the protection and development of the natural resources in their area.
• Draft Cape York and Torres Strait Tourism Development Action Plan, released today for comment, the plan will support sustainable Indigenous tourism opportunities and see them thrive. As part of the plan the Queensland Government will appoint tourism development officers in Cape York and the Torres Strait.
“These initiatives follow last month's signing of the historic Indigenous Partnership Agreement and the agreement with the Queensland Resources Council at Yarrabah,” Mr Beattie said.
"At that signing I also announced that we are moving ahead to reform land tenure controls in indigenous communities to make it easier to provide quality housing and new business opportunities.
“Today’s package builds on those initiatives.
“In practical terms, we expect this package of initiatives to boost local jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: by better delivering government services; in business enterprises related to tourism, the arts and on traditional land and in the private sector and in industries such as mining.
“In addition, the Looking After Country Together framework will help us to work with local communities to improve Indigenous access to and management of traditional land and sea country.
"As a sign of our commitment I am establishing 20 new Indigenous ranger positions.
“This is the first phase of our election commitment to create up to 100 Indigenous rangers to help manage and protect wild rivers throughout Queensland.
“I am also pleased to be releasing the draft Cape York and Torres Strait Tourism Development Action Plan for consultation.
“As part of that plan two tourism development officers will be employed in Cape York and the Torres Strait.
“Tourism represents real opportuntity for Cape York and Torres Strait communities. Projects like the Mapoon Aboriginal community’s turtle conservation project can also be used to attract tourists.
Mr Beattie said the Queensland Government remained committed to further skilling, business development and growth in Cape York.
"These initiatives complement our ongoing commitments to skilling and business development, and will be further driven next month by a Ministerial roundtable with leading Queensland employers.
Mr Beattie said the plan would:
• create real employment, training, and career path opportunities;
• generate opportunities for locally-owned and managed businesses;
• ensure Cape York and Torres Strait Islander culture, traditions and history is preserved; and
• ensure sustainable management of land and sea ecosystems within Cape York and the Torres Strait.
“Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait are recognised as two of the most spectacular and culturally important tourism regions in Queensland,” Mr Beattie said.
“Research shows international and domestic tourists are looking for authentic nature-based and cultural tourism experiences, and Cape York and the Torres Strait have great potential to assist in fulfilling this growing market need.
“This plan focuses on real opportunities, and the State Government will work with industry and local communities to identify and develop tourism ventures which will provide employment, training and career path opportunities,” the Premier said.
Thursday August 9, 2007
For more information: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500