More Indigenous Australians can capitalise on opportunities arising from the development of our natural resource wealth with the establishment of the Martu Business Development Unit in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Officially launching the Unit in Newman today, the Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, said it was an outstanding example of the economic and social benefits partnerships with the resources industry can offer Australia’s Indigenous communities.
“Newcrest and Cameco have partnered with the Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation on this project, including an initial commitment of $5 million,” Minister Ferguson said.
“The record level of activity in our resource and energy sectors is creating jobs, across a range of skill levels and skill sets. We see Indigenous Australians benefiting from this with Indigenous employment in the Pilbara being higher than in other regions of the state.
“This activity is also creating opportunities at a business level.
“These opportunities include the supply of goods and services to major projects, from everything to cleaning and catering to engineering, design and construction.
“The new Business Development Unit will support more Martu people to set up and operate their own enterprises to take advantage of the contracts on offer.
“The Unit and the on-the-ground support it will provide is possible due to a native-title campaign that stretched over two decades. The success of this campaign has delivered not only exclusive native-title rights over one of the largest determination areas in the country but all the avenues for economic prosperity for the Martu people that flow from it.”
The Martu Business Development Unit’s staff will offer practical advisory services on aspects of business including management, training, good governance and launching start-ups. Staff will help secure large contracts with mining operations, including through joint ventures.