The Hon Linda Burney MP
Minister for Indigenous Australians

Joint release with

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP
Prime Minister of Australia

Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health

The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
Minister for Social Services

The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP
Minister for Skills and Training

The Hon Michelle Rowland MP
Minister for Communications

The Albanese Government is announcing a new Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program (RJED) that will help close the gap in employment outcomes by creating 3,000 jobs in remote Australia.

This $707 million investment is the first step in delivering on our commitment to replace the failed Community Development Program (CDP) with real jobs, proper wages, and decent conditions.

The new Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program, starting in the second half of this year, is about self-determination through economic and community development.

It will be implemented in partnership with First Nations people, build skills and experience, and deliver services that communities want.

The Albanese Labor Government is also announcing it will establish a National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People to help achieve progress under the Closing the Gap agreement.

Indigenous children are almost eleven times more likely to be in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous children. The National Commissioner will focus on working with First Nations people on evidence based programs and policies to turn those figures around.

Establishing the National Commissioner is the result of extensive discussions with the peak body, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, which has been calling for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Commissioner for many years.

An interim Commissioner will be appointed mid-year and will work with the government and First Nations expert advisers to determine the powers, roles and functions of the National Commissioner, which will be established under legislation.

The Prime Minister will today hand down the 2023 Closing the Gap Annual Report and the 2024 Implementation Plan. The report assesses progress and commits to new initiatives focussed on improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Other key initiatives include:

• $30.2 million for Remote Training Hubs in up to seven remote locations in Central Australia.
• $10.7 million to continue funding for the Justice Policy Partnership, working to reduce incarceration rates.
• Community Wi-Fi services for around 20 remote communities so people can access government services, education and stay connected, with funding arrangements to be settled through commercial negotiations with NBN Co.
• $24 million to expand the Junior Rangers program to 50 sites to boost engagement and attendance rates of First Nations students.

Significant progress has also been made against commitments made in the 2023 Closing the Gap Implementation Plan:

• 183 people have enrolled in the Health Worker Traineeship Program as part of our commitment to funding 500 First Nations health workers.
• We are improving access to safe and reliable drinking water in the remote Northern Territory communities of Yuendumu and Milingimbi.
• We are delivering the Commonwealth's $100 million investment for urgent repairs and maintenance to housing and essential infrastructure on Northern Territory Homelands – including Utopia, Paru and Rockhole.
• 157 houses are on track to be delivered months earlier than anticipated, easing severe overcrowding in remote Northern Territory communities.
• We are delivering on our landmark justice reinvestment package supporting communities to find local solutions to improve community safety and reduce incarceration rates.
• Over 14,000 First Nations students have enrolled in Fee-Free TAFE courses.
• Work is progressing to improve access to renal services in remote communities for people with end stage kidney disease.
• Applications are open for organisations to expand Indigenous Rangers by up to 1,000 jobs, as part of our plan to double the number of Rangers by 2030.
• Continuing to support the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to employ 260 new workers in community controlled health organisations to deliver cancer treatments and other supports.

Over the next year, the Albanese Government will strengthen our relationship with the Coalition of the Peaks and work in partnership to design and implement programs that make a difference at the local level.

By backing self-determination and listening to locals and working with communities, we can make progress on Closing the Gap.