Election 2016: Liberal and Labor spend big on Indigenous rangers and entrepreneurs

WEEK 3 | Over $300 million has been promised for Indigenous affairs by the major parties today.

Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten use Reconciliation Week as an opportunity to announce major spending for Indigenous projects. Pics: AAP Source: AAP

It was only a matter of time before both major parties unveiled Indigenous election policies on the same day.

Let’s follow the money and see where it takes us.

Coalition

$115m for Indigenous entrepreneurs

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull got to use his favourite catchphrase (‘innovation’!) when he pledged to spend over $100m on stimulating Indigenous businesses.

Here’s how it will be spent:

• $90 million Indigenous Entrepreneurs Fund
• “Refocus” $23.1 million Indigenous Business Development and Assistance Programme delivered by Indigenous Business Australia, to support businesses to become sustainable
• $1.9 million for an Indigenous business sector strategy to help them break into emerging markets

The Prime Minister is also taking credit for creating 39,000 Indigenous jobs since 2013.

Labor

$200m for Indigenous rangers to protect country

Labor has made an ambitious promise to double the number of Indigenous rangers from 775 to 1550 by 2020.

The Opposition Leader said Indigenous rangers are role models and prime examples of how to Close the Gap in Indigenous disadvantage.