Federal funding for Voice, Aboriginal kids, prison diversion and Indigenous health

Indigenous health, Aboriginal children and First Nations-led prison diversion programs are all set to receive more funding after budget nods.

Indigenous health is a winner in the Albanese government’s first budget, with $314 million in funding, though only $30 million of that will be spent this financial year. 

Overall about half will go to investing in health clinics that service Aboriginal populations, while $54.3 million will go towards training Indigenous health workers. $45 million will buy 30 new kidney dialysis units. 

Labor is putting aside $75 million for the referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament, with an additional $16.1 million going to the Australian Electoral Commission to increase Indigenous enrolment rates. 

CEO of Aboriginal charity SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, Catherine Liddle, welcomed reforms to make childcare cheaper and increasing parental leave, but said specific commitments are needed in order to remove barriers for Aboriginal people.  

“The budget announcement around specific funding to increase access to playgroups for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is very welcome,” she said. 

“We look forward to seeing more detail on the $12.4 million overall funding allocated to playgroups and libraries.

“We were happy to see the federal government investing $33.7 million over four years to meet their commitment to changing the activity test so Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children will be able to access 36 hours of subsidised childcare a fortnight.

“This increase of 12 hours a fortnight is a significant step forward. But all the evidence says what will make a real difference in making sure our children meet developmental milestones and are ready for school is scrapping the activity test.

“This was recommended for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the interim report of the Senate Select Committee on Work and Care, which also recommends an immediate increase in funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early education and care services.”

Amnesty International Australia welcomed news of funding for First Nations-led diversion programs. 

“The program the Labor party committed to in the lead up to the May federal election is a welcome start in addressing the underlying causes that lead to overrepresentation of First Nations People in prison,” Indigenous rights campaign lead Maggie Munn said.

“But it is only a start, a small one at that, and we will continue to demand better for our people in addressing the painful legacy of colonisation.

“All of the experts agree – kids don’t belong in prison. Prisons don’t address the causes of problematic behaviour, and they don’t reduce recidivism.

“Justice reinvestment is led by the community, for the community. Instead of failed punitive approaches, justice reinvestment is evidence-based. It embraces therapeutic and rehabilitative methods like diversion programs that address the underlying causes of problematic behaviour in children, in order to improve it – diverting them away from the criminal justice system.”

Another $5.8 million will be spent over three years on a Makarrata Commission to oversee treaty-making and truth-telling processes.