Creating decent and sustainable jobs to enhance indigenous economic development, the role of unions in promoting social justice, and the future of reconciliation will be on the agenda when the ACTU holds its inaugural Indigenous Conference in Darwin next week.
The Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, Mark Arbib, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda, will be among the guest speakers at the three-day conference which runs from Wednesday 16 February to Friday 18 February.
The conference reflects an increasing focus by Australian unions on advocating for better social and economic opportunities for indigenous Australians. Delegates will also hear a report back from a fact-finding mission to Central Australia on the Northern Territory intervention.
Other issues to be discussed will include the future of the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP), income management, and land rights.
“Indigenous Australians have been left behind by the strong growth of the Australian economy over the past decade or so,” said ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence.
“While unions have been able to achieve significant gains for members and communities though bargaining and community campaigning, thousands of Indigenous workers remain without basic rights and are usually employed in the most vulnerable and insecure types of work.
“Australian unions are committed to the development of an effective partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. This partnership should work towards the redress of the economic and social disadvantage faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly in relation to employment.”
Conference highlights: Keynote speech by on indigenous employment by the Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, Mark Arbib: 9am, Thursday 17 February
Keynote speech on reconciliation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda: 9am, Friday 18 February - Report on the Central Australia delegation by ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence: 11.30am, Wednesday, 16 February -
The conference opens at 9.15am on Wednesday, 16 February. Conference venue: Travelodge, Mirambeena Resort, Cnr Cavenagh & Lindsay St, Darwin
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