Nigel Scullion says the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement will have a positive effect on Indigenous communities.

The Minister for Indigenous Affairs said he shares Indigenous leader Warren Mundine’s frustration in watching Labor’s opposition to the Agreement.

“As Mr Mundine puts it, Labor’s opposition would be ‘an act of vandalism’ and it would be embarrassing watching Labor dance around why they oppose this when they didn’t oppose similar deals with other countries,” the Minister said this week.

He believes the Free Trade Agreement will have a particularly strong effect on three sectors;

  • Agriculture and fisheries
  • Resources and energy
  • Manufacturing

“These industries represent some of the major employment sectors for Indigenous Australians and provide great economic development opportunities for Indigenous enterprises and entrepreneurs,” he said.

According to the 2011 census, over 18,000 Indigenous Australians worked in agriculture and fisheries, resources and energy and manufacturing – 12 per cent of the Indigenous work force.

“Governments must put in place the framework for others to invest, create businesses and provide new jobs,” Minister Scullion said.

“That is what the China Australia Free Trade Agreement is all about.

“We should be focusing on the opportunities it will create for groups like Indigenous communities – economic development and employment in these regions of greatest need.”