You can’t have true self-determination without economic independence – but it’s not just jobs for mob, it’s about building a strong First Nations economy.
That’s what we told the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, in our written submission to its inquiry into what’s required to see economic independence and opportunity for First Nations peoples, published in May 2024.
When we talk about economic independence, we make a distinction between the ‘Aboriginal economy’ – jobs and businesses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – and the ‘First Nations economy’, or the value of communally held and traded rights, which bring benefit to the collective (Nation) as a whole.
Our submission to the inquiry covers:
- the direct link between a strong First Nations economy and achieving collective self-determination
- the importance of a rights-based approach to economic development in seeing greater economic opportunity for all First Nations peoples
- the role (and risk) of treaty in creating opportunities for Traditional Owner groups to secure economic rights, but equally for government to delay reform in anticipation of treaty
- how the Federation’s work program embeds Traditional Owners groups’ rights and interests and supports groups to see and harness opportunities for future economic development.
