Tuesday, 6 December 2011

Balanced development that marries economic opportunities with the pursuit of cultural values is fundamental to the ability of Aboriginal people to carve out a place in modern society, according to leaders at an Indigenous business conference at The University of Western Australia today.

The Indigenous Business, Corporations and Entrepreneurship Conference 2011 is the inaugural annual conference hosted by UWA's Centre for Social Impact (CSI), within the Business School.

Wayne Bergmann, CEO Kimberley Regional Economic Development Corporation (Enterprises) and CSI (UWA) Advisory Council Member, said there was no conflict between the pursuit of economic opportunities and maintenance of Aboriginal culture and society.

"It is not a case of having to choose between economic development and preserving our culture, it is a matter of recognising that we can not preserve our ancient independent culture without real economic independence," Mr Bergmann said.

He said critics who labelled it inappropriate for Aboriginal people to work in the mining industry were wrong.  "I would rather we listened to the voice of young Aboriginal people, who live their culture each day, and see no conflict in working in some of the most technically advanced mines on the planet."

"We should not be scared or ashamed to make and create better opportunities from our land.  Making sure this is done in an environmentally and culturally acceptable way has always been our responsibility and always will be," Mr Bergmann said.

"I believe that the future of our culture and our existence as independent communities within this nation is dependent on our place in the Australian economy.  Just like Malcolm X said, until black people control the economies of our communities there will be limited access to justice and fairness."

Mr Bergmann, who was previously CEO of the Kimberley Land Council, said he would continue his fight for equal rights and a better life for Aboriginal people.  He said that frustration was the dominant emotion of people working within Aboriginal organisations.

"Frustration with the status quo, with the slow pace of change, with initiatives that sound good in an air-conditioned office in the city, but which never bear fruit on the ground, of policy that is developed without talking to Aboriginal people and with no understanding of the tough realities of life in Aboriginal communities," he said.

"Frustration with the dogma that Aboriginal people can survive without being part of the modern economy, and that big business and big mining companies must always be the sworn enemies of Aboriginal people."

"Frustration with the good intentions of Government.  Government will remain important, but I sometimes feel that we as Aboriginal people have hit a dead end in our dealings with government."

Natalie Walker, CEO Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council (AIMSC), said the use of strategic procurement to grow Indigenous business brought about genuine economic development changes in communities.

Ms Walker said now was the time to start to build a future in which Indigenous business is an economic powerhouse.

Ms Walker, who described AIMSC as a "dating agency for business", said it was important to get Australia's largest buyers to buy from Indigenous owned, controlled and managed business.

She said that companies with a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) awarded Indigenous contracts at a higher rate, and for a greater value, than those without a RAP.  Companies doing business with Indigenous suppliers had a clear and compelling business case and commitment from the highest levels of management.

Ian Trust, Executive Chairman, Wunan Foundation and Director, Indigenous Business Australia, described the many opportunities for change that would positively impact the East Kimberley region.

He described a region where the median age at death for Aboriginal men is 50, just 18 per cent of Aboriginal people were in "real" (non CDEP) jobs and the imprisonment rate for Aboriginal people was 7.6 times higher than for non-Aboriginal people.

"Wunan's goal is to shift the balance of dependence from 80 per cent to 20 per cent by 2025," he said, adding that the transition from welfare would come through education, employment, training and housing initiatives.

He listed as key opportunities the Government's "Close the Gap" push, major infrastructure developments such as the $220 million Ord Expansion Project and $195 million East Kimberley Development Package, and growth in regional small business and industry, particularly in agriculture, mining and tourism.

Mr Trust said the key building blocks in developing a social enterprise in remote areas were government grants, philanthropy, royalties, commercial assets and fee-for-service.  Along with finance and strong governance, a partnerships philanthropy and long-term vision were attributes required for success.

Media references

Sonia Nolan , Community Engagement and  (+61 8)  6488 8562  /  (+61 4) 01 034 103
Corporate Affairs Manager, Centre for Social Impact
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783

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