New peak body to represent Indigenous business

A new peak body representing the indigenous business sector in Australia has been launched.

Deb Barwick

Deb Barwick

Indigenous chambers of commerce have been operating in all states and terrorities for several years.

But now they've come together on a national level.

At the launch of the First Australians Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sydney, the Interim Chairwoman of the FACCI Deb Barwick says the peak body has been a long time in the making.

"We've known that we've needed an advocacy group for many years and we haven't been able to take that forward we believe now is the right time to come together as a nation and a national network to form that body so that we can truly be a voice for indigenous suppliers across the nation."

Ms Barwick says the creation of the national body will ensure direct dialogue between the Indigenous business sector and the federal government. 

"I believe by having that national voice and being able to have a conversation with government we'll be able to take the cornerns or barriers to government and say look economics is great but these are the things in our communities and in our indigenous space for that to happen."

From July the 1st, the federal government will introduce targets aimed at lifting the number of indigenous people in the workforce.

Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion also wants a big per cent increase in the number of contracts the federal government awards to indigenous businesses.

Senator Scullion says the new national chamber of commerce can hold the government accountable to achieving the targets.

"Now not only is advocacy going to push the case for indigenous business in the broader community but I think the really important role for the new First Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is you get to whole the government to account. You have to hold me to account." 

The Minister says development of the indigenous business sector is vital.

"Without a doubt a strong and vibrant indigenous business sector creates wealth, it creates independence and it creates opportunity and particularly creates productivity for all of our nation. This isn't about indigenous businesses. Indigenous business is a sector of a larger Australia."

Indigenous business leaders, like the Chief Executive of Outback Global Australia, Jasmine Herro, have welcomed the move to stimulate indigenous business, nationally.

"For the first time in my life I believe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a vehicle with which to break the cycle of intergenerational dependence on government welfare."


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3 min read

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By Lydia Feng


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