14 May 2013, 9:04 pm - By Jeremy Geia, NITV
NITV correspondent Jeremy Geia takes a look at how the federal budget announcements will
affect those in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
It has been revealed that 340 remote Indigenous communities in five states will share $44.1
million for essential services such as power, water and sewerage.
That work will start in July.
Indigenous education is also getting a boost.
A plan to send 7000 students to boarding school will be backed by a $10 million grant to the
Australian Indigenous Education Foundation
The National Disability Insurance Scheme will get a massive $68 billion investment over the next
10 years.
This means Indigenous families will be able to access carers and outlay for specialised
equipment like wheelchairs.
Overall education funding of around $26 billion is projected over the next decade. But the Greens
and the Australian Education Union weren't too happy about cuts to higher education.
Last year nearly $25 billion was invested in black programs spread across 86 initiatives.
That represents nearly 6 per cent of the national budget.
Mining Magnate Clive Palmer traveled in his private jet to give his assessment of the Federal
government's spending on Indigenous Australians.
He says the proposed budget initiatives do not adequately address the needs of Indigenous
Australians.
"There are many areas that don't have sewerage, don't have water and basic services need to be
provided because that goes toward Aboriginal health," Mr Palmer says.
Last financial year the government was accused by some black leaders of robbing the states to
pay for the Stronger Futures rollout in the Northern Territory.
Ahead of the federal budget, some Indigenous leaders say they fear we will see more penny
pinching in an effort to close the funding , as opposed to, the life expectancy gap.
New Indigenous funding announcements made in federal budget:
Funding for Indigenous services will be boosted by $1.6 billion in the federal budget 2013.
- $127.5 million to extend employment programs
- $12 million for additional support for specialised Indigenous legal services
- $15 million over three years to continue funding for the National Congress, starting in 2014
- $6.2 million for upgrades to nine hostels in Queensland and the Northern Territory
- $1.3 million over two years for a developmental study of Indigenous children
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1766252/Budget-outcomes-for-Indigenous-Aussies