Category: Australian News

Regional Australians will benefit from improved access to health services thanks to the Australian Government’s $1.2 billion investment to boost healthcare in the bush in the 2020-21 Federal Budget.
Federal Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton, said the significant regional health investment builds on reforms in place to expand rural training opportunities and address complex workforce challenges in rural communities.
“Whether it is through training more health professionals in regional areas, supporting regional hospitals, or increasing access to mental health supports, the Government stands with regional and rural Australians,” Minister Coulton said.
“Our suite of reforms, including important investments in Budget 2020, focus on addressing this distribution challenge and investing in new approaches and localised solutions.”
Minister Coulton said the 2020-21 Budget invests in new models of primary care and expands rural training opportunities to build the rural workforce of the future.
“We are breaking new ground by investing in unique, sub-regional models of primary care delivery to trial different approaches to addressing these perennial rural challenges,” he said.
“We need to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach, by handing local communities the tools to integrate services, increase their ability to support necessary health services and localise the solution.
“This is significantly different to traditional workforce solutions. We recognise the need to develop local workforces to meet the unique needs of rural and remote communities, better harness the resources at-hand, and ensure professionals have a supportive team is an important part of that.
“National Rural Health Commissioner, Ruth Stewart, will play a central role in overseeing the implementation and evaluation of these ready-to-go projects and will lead the identification and development of a further six similar projects across the country.”
The new models of primary care being funded through the 2020-21 Budget will utilise health services and professionals across like communities and test how novel approaches, including governance and program management, can better deliver health services to small, rural communities. This investment builds on the rollout of the Murrumbidgee Model for Rural Generalist trainees announced in May 2020.
Evidence shows that students, who train rurally, are more likely to live and work rurally, and this is fundamental to the Government’s approach to developing a rural training pipeline.
“We are continuing to enhance rural training opportunities with $50.3 million to expand the
Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program, including funding for a new University Department of Rural Health to support more nursing and allied health students to train in the regions,” Minister Coulton said.
“This investment in rural training will also increase remote training opportunities and provide dedicated training spaces in aged care services.
The 2020-21 Budget importantly continues to fund the Government’s COVID-19 Health Response to manage the impact of the pandemic in rural Australia. The roll-out of 150 GP Respiratory Clinics, of which more than half are in regional centres, are critical to monitoring potential outbreaks and ensuring hospital and primary care networks continue operating as normal.
“While cases remain low in regional communities, it is important we remain vigilant and be ready to respond if there is transmission in any of our regional communities,” Minister Coulton said.
“Perhaps the greatest revelation for rural and remote Australians during the pandemic has been the Government’s fast-tracked expansion of temporary MBS Telehealth items.
“While Telehealth doesn’t replace face-to-face care, it is a valuable tool to tackle the peril of distance and has helped protect vulnerable patients and health professionals across the country through this pandemic.”
Minister Coulton said the Government will continue to build on investments in this year’s Budget through broader primary care and workforce reforms.
“As Australia’s focus moves beyond the immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic and into a long-term COVID safe recovery, regional Australia will benefit from this Government’s commitment to them,” Minister Coulton said.
“The Coalition is focused on delivering for regional Australia and is committed to building strong, safe, well‑serviced local communities for the future.”
Background:
The 2020-21 Budget delivers significant investment to improve access to health services in regional, rural, and remote Australia, including the following measures:

• $125 million to deliver clinical trials in regional locations, through the Medical Research Future Fund, improving access to potentially life-saving medical innovations and helping make the regions an attractive career move.
• $50.3 million to enhance the rural training pipeline through the long‑standing Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program. This investment expands the network of 16 University Departments of Rural Health to 17 and extends training into smaller rural communities, and rural residential aged care facilities. A feasibility study will identify opportunities for dental training in regional locations.
• $3.3 million to support new methods of delivering primary care across five sub-regions in western and southern New South Wales.
• $11.2 million over four years, and $2.1 million per year (ongoing), to secure and expand the office of the National Rural Health Commissioner.
• A further $2 billion to extend the COVID-19 Health response, taking the total health response to $16.5 billion, with key components of the package extended for a further six months to 31 March 2021.

Young Australians will be offered more opportunity and increased support to build a better future under key measures announced in the 2020–21 Budget.
Minister for Youth and Sport, Richard Colbeck said the Morrison Government’s plan, outlined on Tuesday night, paved the road to recovery, particularly for young people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our Government is focused on making sure opportunities exist for young Australians in education and employment, while delivering appropriate assistance to help them navigate the impact of the COVID pandemic,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The Budget clearly outlines how young people remain a key focus as we get Australia back on track.”
The Coalition has committed $4 billion to support young people into work through the JobMaker Hiring Credit.
It provides a wage subsidy of $200 a week for up to a year to make an eligible position available to a Jobseeker, Youth Allowance or Parenting Payment recipient aged 16 to 29 or $100 a week for recipients aged 30 to 35.
Minister Colbeck said the Government is also encouraging more young people to take up a trade with $1.2 billion for Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements – a 50 per cent wage subsidy for any businesses taking on a new or recommencing apprentice.
“This is tangible action which builds on the existing $2.8 billion wage subsidy that is helping employers retain their apprentices and trainees,” Minister Colbeck said.
Other Budget initiatives that have a strong focus on supporting young Australians include:

• $146.3 million for a Student Support Package to help more than 76,000 disadvantaged young people through The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program;
• $10 million investment to expand the Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship grants program funding up to an additional 50 projects to remove barriers and increase participation;
• $25.2 million to amend workforce participation requirements, making it easier for young people on Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY to prove independence;
• $900,000 to expand the Girls in STEM Toolkit which supports school aged girls;
• $21.9 million for the Faster Connections and Greater Support for Young People for those aged 15-24 years. The initiative connects early school leavers to services faster  and provides specialist youth assistance to young job seekers in online employment services; and
• $39.4 million for Online Safety Reform.

Minister Colbeck said the Government was also committed to ensuring the mental health of young people is maintained by supporting Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
“The Australian Government has invested an unprecedented $5.7 billion in mental health support in 2020-21 alone,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Doubling the number of Medicare-funded psychological services from 10 to 20 through the Better Access Initiative.
“The Government is driving the largest expansion of the headspace network, from 124 services to 153 services nationally by 2022. Over the next four years, the Government will invest $630.4 million in this national network,” Minister Colbeck said.
“We’re also expanding the national suicide prevention trials, as well as aftercare services for those who have self-harmed or attempted suicide, new services to support families and carers who have been bereaved by suicide, youth peer support, and support for Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander youth.”
Minister Colbeck said these budget measures build on our existing and ongoing work in developing a whole-of-government National Youth Policy Framework to inform how policies and programs support young Australians and improve their lives.
“Young Australians aged 15-24 are still able to contribute to this vital framework aimed at shining a light on the issues that affect so many and shaping the priorities, policies and programs for the future.”
The survey can be found here.
More information about the 2020–21 Budget is available here.

An Albanese Labor Government will rebuild the nation’s manufacturing industry with a comprehensive plan to create jobs, boost vital skills, bring industry expertise back onshore and supercharge national productivity.
As part of his budget reply speech in Canberra tonight, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese unveiled A Future Made in Australia ­– Labor’s blueprint for local manufacturing jobs and skills – which includes:

• A National Rail Manufacturing Plan to see more trains built in Australia by local workers and ensure every dollar of federal funding spent on rail projects boosts local jobs and industry;
• A Defence Industry Development Strategy to leverage our $270 billion investment pipeline, develop sovereign industrial and research capabilities and build skills and expertise within the Australian workforce; and
• An Australian Skills Guarantee to give apprentices, trainees and cadets a foot in the door when it comes to work on major Commonwealth projects.

This will build on the jobs that will flow from Labor’s plans for an Australian Centre for Disease Control and a social housing repair program to get tradies back on the tools.
Labor’s National Rail Manufacturing Plan will undertake a national audit of passenger train capacity and condition, develop our rail procurement and manufacturing strategy, assess how we can grow jobs, bolster research and development and collaborate with innovation initiatives and organisations.
Importantly, it will reinstate the important role of the Rail Supplier Advocate cut by the Liberals in 2013 – to help small and medium-sized businesses identify export opportunities and get a foot in the door with government purchasing bodies.
The Defence Industry Development Strategy will put Australian industry, workers and security first with a framework to maximise and publicly disclose local content for all major defence material procurements and local defence contracts.
Finally, an Australian Skills Guarantee will ensure that one in 10 jobs on major federally funded infrastructure projects are given to apprentices, trainees or cadets.
This work will be supported by Jobs and Skills Australia – announced by Mr Albanese last year – an independent body designed to bring together the business community, states and territories, unions, education providers and regional organisations to match skills training with the evolving demands of industry.

A new targeted support package for young people is helping to tackle the uncertainty around leaving school and choosing the right career pathway.
The National Careers Institute (NCI) has launched the School Leavers Information Kit and the School Leavers Information Service.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said these initiatives provide invaluable support and assistance for school leavers.
“Australian school students in Years 10, 11 and 12 have shown unwavering resilience in the face of COVID-19 and they deserve the best possible support as they consider their next steps,” Minister Cash said.
“These initiatives will help young people finishing school to find the education, training and employment options that best suit them, now and into the future.
The Australian Government has invested $13.8 million in the Enhanced Support for School Leavers measure.
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships, the Hon Steve Irons MP, said the online kit and the information service complement the recently launched Australian Government careers website, Your Career.
“I am pleased that these initiatives are available at such an important time to support our school leavers in taking their next step towards pursuing their career pathway in 2021,” Assistant Minister Irons said.
The School Leavers Information Kit Your Career: What’s next for you? is available on the Your Career website at YourCareer.gov.au.
The School Leavers Information Service is available by calling 1800 227 337or emailing schoolleavers.nci@dese.gov.au.
For more information about the work of the NCI, visit www.nci.dese.gov.au.

The Australian Government is investing a total of $2.3 billion to support home-grown researchers and manufacturers to develop and produce a COVID-19 vaccine, while engaging in strategic international partnerships to support access for Australia and our region.
Under its COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy, the Australian Government is investing $1.7 billion to pre-order 84.8 million doses of vaccine with leading Australian manufacturer CSL Limited (Seqirus) and UK-based AstraZeneca.
On 7 September 2020, the Australian Government announced that should promising trials prove successful for the University of Oxford/Astra Zeneca and the University of Queensland vaccine candidates, more than 80 million doses of the two potential COVID-19 vaccines would be made available for the Australian population, almost entirely manufactured in Melbourne.
This followed from the execution of a binding Heads of Terms between the Australian Government and CSL/Seqirus for the University of Queensland vaccine candidate.
The Government has now entered a final supply agreement with CSL/Seqirus around the supply of 51 million doses of the University of Queensland (UQ)-CSL COVID-19 vaccine candidate, including key terms to support clinical and technical development activities for the vaccine candidate.
Phase IIb/III trials of the UQ vaccine candidate are scheduled to start in early December 2020 in numerous countries and over more than 100 sites. The study will evaluate efficacy, immunogenicity and safety in adults aged 18 years and above.
The Australian Government has also joined the COVAX facility, providing access to a large portfolio of COVID-19 vaccine candidates and manufacturers across the world. The Government’s upfront payment of $123.2 million guarantees we receive offers to purchase a number of vaccine candidates from around the world as they become available, meeting safety and effectiveness standards.
This is Australia’s second commitment to the COVAX facility, with $80 million donated in August to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment – a collaborative effort to provide doses to developing countries, enabling more countries to protect their most vulnerable groups.
Australia’s contribution supports a global coordination effort to ensure equitable and affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines, which is essential to reinvigorate the global economy.

The Morrison Government remains committed to keeping Australians safe, while protecting the nation’s interests as part of Australia’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan, in a rapidly changing global environment.
The 2020-21 Budget sees sustained strong investment in Australia’s national security, with a focus on regional security, building defence capability and creating jobs, boosting Australia’s cyber resilience and supporting Australia’s sovereign defence industry.
The Budget delivers the Morrison Government’s commitment to grow the Defence budget to two per cent of GDP in the 2020–21 financial year and will deliver a stable funding path into the future.
2020 DEFENCE STRATEGIC UPDATE AND 2020 FORCE STRUCTURE PLAN
The 2020 Defence Strategic Update and 2020 Force Structure Plan is a 10 year funding model with a 20 year outlook and continues to provide Defence and defence industry with the planning certainty required to support the ongoing development and delivery of critical Defence capability and Australian jobs.
This 10 year model provides Defence, including the Australian Signals Directorate, with funding of $575 billion over the decade to 2029-30.
The Morrison Government’s Budget commitments position Defence to implement the 2020 Force Structure Plan and address our increasing strategic competition, now and into the future.
BOOSTING AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE CAPABILITY
The Morrison Government will invest $270 billion over the next 10 years to upgrade the capability and potency of the Australian Defence Force.
This includes investing in more lethal and long-range capabilities to hold adversary forces and infrastructure at risk, further from Australia, including longer-range strike weapons, offensive cyber capabilities and area denial capabilities.
We will also invest in capabilities to give Australia better awareness of our region and to support regional engagement, while also increasing our air and sea lift capability to ensure we can rapidly respond to events across our region.
More broadly, through this investment we are ensuring Defence and Australia has more durable supply chains, while further strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence industry to create more high tech Australian jobs and enhance the ADF’s self reliance.
Our investment in Defence will also expand ADF support to civil authorities in response to national crises and natural disasters with deployable health care and engineering capabilities.
This $270 billion investment provides unprecedented opportunities for Australian industry and the creation of more Australian jobs.
The Morrison Government is strengthening the Australian Industry Capability (AIC) Program to help maximise opportunities for Australian business in these projects.
Investment in critical infrastructure, facilities, wharves and ports will continue with around $30 billion being invested over the decade.
Local industry involvement in the delivery of these projects will be maximised through the Morrison Government’s Local Industry Capability Plan initiative. This ensures that local suppliers, contractors and tradies have the opportunity to secure more of this work, creating more jobs for local communities.
CYBER SECURITY SUPPORT
Malicious cyber activity against Australia is increasing in frequency, scale and sophistication.
This Government is making the nation’s largest ever investment in cyber security through our $1.7 billion 2020 Cyber Security Strategy, which includes $1.4 billion over the next decade to enhance the cyber security capabilities and assistance provided to Australians through the Australian Signals Directorate and the Australian Cyber Security Centre.
This significant investment, known as the Cyber Enhanced Situational Awareness and Response (CESAR) package, will mean that we can identify more cyber threats, disrupt more foreign cybercriminals, build more partnerships with industry and government and protect more Australians.
The CESAR package has been designed to boost protection and cyber resilience for all Australians, from individuals and small businesses through to the providers of critical services.
It includes a $470 million investment to expand our cyber security workforce, with the creation of over 500 new Australian jobs within ASD.
The package will put our nation on the front foot in combatting cyber threats and our investment in a cyber security workforce will help ensure we have the people we need to meet future cyber challenges.
SUPPORTING AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND BACKING DEFENCE INDUSTRY
Australia’s defence industry has demonstrated remarkable versatility throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to keep Defence capabilities and our Australian economy moving.
Supporting Australia’s defence industry is crucial to our economic recovery and the creation of more jobs.
We have implemented a $1 billion investment package aimed at boosting Australia’s defence industry and supporting thousands of jobs across the country.
This includes increased funding of over $110 million for Defence innovation, industry grants, skilling and micro credentialing, and cyber training for Defence industry.
The Morrison Government recently launched the Skilling Australia’s Defence Industry (SADI) Grants program, which will deliver $39 million over the next three years to support a skilled workforce in the defence industry sector.
In addition to these grant initiatives, the Government is announcing a further $4 million to establish the Joint Strike Fighter Industry Support Program, delivering more opportunities for Australian industry participation. This builds on the success of the New Air Combat Capability Industry Support Program, which has delivered 46 grants to 25 Australian companies, worth $21.7 million.
Already we have fast-tracked a range of capability, infrastructure, skilling and workforce initiatives over the next two years, including a $300 million national estates works program focusing on regional areas, and $190 million on infrastructure projects in the Northern Territory.
Around 4,000 Australian jobs will be supported over the 2020-21 and 2021-22 financial years through the delivery of this economic package. This reaffirms our commitment to further strengthening the defence industrial base to ensure that it is robust, resilient and internationally competitive.
The measures will continue to support and grow the 70,000-strong workforce in defence industry, supply chains, and down-stream suppliers who are benefiting from our investment in defence.
ADF SUPPORTING AUSTRALIANS
The Government remains committed to supporting Australians in need which is why we are strengthening the ADF’s ability to respond to natural disasters, domestic emergencies, and support to the near region.
Since February, Defence has provided comprehensive support worth $80.7 million to states and territories as part of Operation COVID-19 ASSIST with more than 3,200 personnel providing support across the country.
To continue to provide support, the Government will streamline the process for calling out Reservists to boost the ADF’s capacity to respond quickly when needed.
This measure builds on the Government’s commitment to increase the number of reserve days for existing ADF Reserve members, and recruiting an additional 500 Reservists to provide more employment opportunities for Australians impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic.
DELIVERING SUPPORT TO THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC
The Morrison Government will invest a further $124.3 million over 10 years to support the Pacific Step-Up through increased investment in security infrastructure in the Pacific.
This investment includes a joint Australia-Solomon Islands project to construct a border and patrol boat outpost in Solomon Islands’ western provinces, announced by Prime Minister Morrison and Prime Minister Sogavare in October 2019.
Australia’s support for a border and patrol boat outpost will enhance infrastructure and security cooperation between our countries, and support Solomon Islands’ border security.
The outpost will be used by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and other Solomon Islands agencies to conduct remote patrolling and security operations.
The design will feature environmentally sustainable elements and will be appropriate to regional conditions, and will include a wharf capable of replenishing Guardian-Class patrol boats, accommodation buildings, and storage facilities.
Under the Pacific Step-Up, Australia is working with regional partners to strengthen economic resilience, deepen personal connections and enhance security cooperation.
Our infrastructure projects in the Pacific contribute to the Australian and regional economies. These projects are providing significant economic stimulus and employment opportunities.
Defence Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) 2020-21 are available on the Defence website.

The Morrison Government is backing Australian manufacturing, as well as the science and research that underpins it, as part of our Economic Recovery Plan to lead the nation out of the COVID-19 crisis by creating the jobs needed now and for generations to come.
The 2020-21 Budget includes an investment of $1.5 billion over four years for the Modern Manufacturing Strategy to allow Australian manufacturers to scale up, compete internationally and create more jobs.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, said the investments highlight the Government’s commitment to making science and technology work for industry, which is a key pillar of the Modern Manufacturing Strategy.
“A resilient and competitive manufacturing sector should be at the heart of a modern Australian economy and this Strategy will create jobs, drive our economy forward and make Australia more secure.”
“When you combine our new Modern Manufacturing Strategy with the increased funding for the CSIRO, you have a powerful base from which to turbo-charge job creation,” Minister Andrews said.
The centrepiece of the Modern Manufacturing Strategy is the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative, which will see the Government strategically invest in projects that help manufacturers to scale up and create jobs.
“We are putting our money where our mouth is, to galvanise investment in Australian manufacturing,” Minister Andrews said.
The Modern Manufacturing Initiative will support projects within six National Manufacturing Priorities: resources technology and critical minerals processing, food and beverage, medical products, recycling and clean energy, defence, and space.
Industry will be engaged to help develop tailored road maps for each of the priority sectors.
The Strategy will also address the competitiveness of individual manufacturers in our priority sectors, with a $52.8 million expansion of the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund.
Earlier this year the Government invested $48.3 million to support around 200 projects worth $215 million, which are expected to create 2,600 jobs.
The COVID-19 crisis has also highlighted supply chain issues and opportunities. A $107.2 million Supply Chain Resilience Initiative will support projects that address an identified supply chain vulnerability.
The Budget also includes an additional $459.2 million in funding for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) over four years to address the impacts of COVID-19 on its commercial activities and ensure it is able to continue essential scientific research.
The 2020-21 Budget also includes measures to support the goal of Australia becoming a leading digital economy by 2030, with $29.7 million to help Australian businesses better use digital tools to readjust their operations and processes in a post-COVID economy.
This investment will accelerate the adoption of digital technologies by businesses, create jobs in sectors with high potential for growth, support the use of technology to make business regulatory compliance easier, and boost Australia’s influence over the development and deployment of digital standards.
The Government is committed to realising the potential of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Budget includes:

• $35.9 million to expand the Boosting Female Founders Initiative.
• $10 million to extend the successful Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship grants program.
• $2 million to extend the Women in STEM Ambassador initiative. This is also an important part of the Government’s Women’s Economic Security Statement.

The Government is also building sovereign capability in life-saving nuclear medicines with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) receiving an additional $238.1 million over the next four years.

The Morrison Government is investing in new services and initiatives to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have sustained economic and social opportunities as part of our economic recovery plan for Australia.
The Government is also ensuring that the challenges from COVID-19 do not slow down progress towards improving the lives of Indigenous Australians.
Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, said the Government is reforming the way it works with and for Indigenous Australians, focusing on partnerships and shared decision making to better target investments.
“The 2020-21 Budget continues the Government’s commitment to co-designing the solutions that will positively impact the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Minister Wyatt said.
The Government is rebuilding our economy by stimulating regional economic activity by ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people secure appropriate, affordable housing that is aligned with their priorities and needs. This will also contribute to Closing the Gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Indigenous Business Australia will receive an additional investment of $150 million over three years to deliver 360 home loans for new housing construction in regional Australia.
The extension of Indigenous Business Australia’s Indigenous Home Ownership Programme will support over 1,000 jobs by unlocking financing for shovel-ready construction projects in regional Australia and increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized housing.
The Government is also fulfilling one of its election commitments by finalising the agreement with the Queensland Government to deliver better housing for Indigenous people.
The 2020-21 Budget reaffirms the Government’s commitment to supporting the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The Government will enhance the next phase of Closing the Gap with an investment of $46.5 million over four years to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations build their capacity and business models.
The Government is also continuing the Return of Cultural Heritage initiative by investing $10.1 million over four years for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) to secure the return of more cultural heritage to traditional owners and custodians.
The recently announced Murray-Darling Basin Package includes $3.1 million to create four new Indigenous River Ranger groups to care for Country which will bring Indigenous knowledge and connection to country to support water and natural resource management activities within the Basin.
The Government is providing $39.8 million over four years for the Clontarf Foundation, including $7.6 million through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy for 2,000 extra scholarships on top of the 10,500 scholarships currently offered under existing arrangements. This new funding provides immediate support for additional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
In addition to these measures, the July Economic and Fiscal Update included $19.8 million to support Indigenous Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic and through the recovery phase. This funding included support to three Commonwealth wholly-owned Indigenous subsidiaries that have been severely impacted in 2020 and funding to support jurisdictions with the cost of implementing COVID-19 related travel restrictions to remote communities.
The Government is also continuing its commitment to the $5.4 billion Indigenous Advancement Strategy. This will see work continuing on projects to reduce the rates of Indigenous incarceration, youth suicide, family and domestic violence as well as improving the health, safety, wellbeing, education, employment and economic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Budget demonstrates that the Coalition Government is supporting Indigenous Australians through the COVID-19 pandemic and is working closely with Indigenous communities to invest in local priorities.
The Government believes in working together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to make local decisions and give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities the support needed to deliver better life outcomes for Indigenous Australians.