Our government is taking real action to build a meaningful treaty between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous peoples in Queensland.
Last month, a bill to establish a First Nations Treaty Institute and a Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry was introduced into the Queensland Parliament in February this year.
The Bill is the next important step along Queensland’s Path to Treaty Commitment, made between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous peoples on 16 August 2022.
It builds on the Path to Treaty we embarked upon together that includes:
– A $300 million Path to Treaty fund guaranteeing at least $10 million a year for the institute
– Formation of the Interim Truth and Treaty body to co-design the Path to Treaty legislation and
– Establishment of a path to treaty office, government treaty readiness committee and Ministerial Consultative Committee to build capacity across government agencies.
Our government believes all Queenslanders should have the opportunity to deeply understand our past, to acknowledge the pain and suffering, and to build a better future together.
Queensland’s Path to Treaty signals an opportunity to walk into a much brighter tomorrow, and this landmark Bill is a crucial next step toward that after the commitment made last year.
I urge all Queenslanders to join this journey to finish this unfinished business, to embrace compassion to walk in other people’s shoes and to make the commitment to make the most of this opportunity.
Meanwhile, Queensland is leading the nation in job creation, and we want to make sure all Queenslanders have access to new and exciting opportunities.
Indigenous Queenslanders are already making an important contribution to our economy locally and across the state.
We want to see this positive action grow and expand.
That is why our government has announced a $4 million grants program to support Indigenous employment pathways over the next two years.
The Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant program funds Indigenous designed and led projects that support or respond to local training and workforce needs.
Up to $250,000 is available to these organisations delivering Indigenous-led projects that respond to local training and workforce needs in remote communities, regional areas, and Southeast Queensland.
I encourage local Indigenous organisations to apply for a grant to develop projects that address training and skills challenges or create job opportunities for Indigenous peoples.
The first of two rounds of the program are now open and will close on 4 May 2023.
