Mining Partnership Funding Renewed
26 May 2005 at 1:05 pm
The federal Government has injected a further $2 million over four years as part of the 2005-06 Federal Budget to support working partnerships between Indigenous communities and the mining industry.
Industry, Tourism and Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane says now in its fourth year, the Working in Partnership Program is delivering substantial benefits to Indigenous communities and the mining industry by encouraging the positive change coming about in this relationship.
.
The Minister says building long-term partnerships with Indigenous communities is part of ‘core business’ for the mining and exploration industry.
The program’s key elements are:
– a series of regional workshops bringing stakeholders together;
– support for regional committees to advance issues raised during workshops;
– a web site (www.industry.gov.au/indigenouspartnerships) promoting examples of good practice; and
– an information kit on relevant government and industry programs which can support partnership initiatives.
Regional committees established in Queensland after the 2004 workshops continue to address issues of local concern and the program has since supported a number of Indigenous Corporate Governance courses to improve indigenous understanding of business structures and standards.
Case studies of successful partnerships between Indigenous communities and the mining industry can be found www.industry.gov.au/indigenouspartnerships.
