The latest funding round of the Aboriginals Benefit Account is delivering $43.9 million for 36 community-led projects across the Northern Territory.
The Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA) under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, collects and distributes royalties generated from mining on Aboriginal land.
Thirty-four organisations have been successful in their bid to deliver economic development, employment opportunities and important infrastructure for communities.
The range of projects to receive funding includes:
- The refurbishment of the Urapunga community store to provide greater supply resilience and employment outcomes.
- The installation of a reticulation sprinkler system to maintain the Kalano sports ground year round, saving water and delivering an important community resource for recreation, competition and community events.
- Upgrades to youth service infrastructure and facilities in 17 communities across Central Australia, providing an essential social resource as well as employment in these communities.
- Establishment of transitional housing accommodation in Darwin for women and children who have experienced domestic, family or sexual violence.
Existing ABA arrangements will soon be replaced with a new process managed by the Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation (NTAIC), a new Aboriginal-led corporate Commonwealth entity that has commenced today.
Establishing the NTAIC puts the Australian Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap into action by shifting decision making over the ABA from Canberra to the Northern Territory - prioritising self-determination for Aboriginal Territorians.
The hard work of the interim Board over the past eight months, with the Commonwealth Government supporting the commencement of the NTAIC, has allowed the entity to commence ahead of the legislated timeframe.
NTAIC will implement a simplified and streamlined ABA grants program to deliver greater benefits to Aboriginal people in the NT with their new grants process expected to open around March 2023.
Quotes attributable to Minister Burney:
“From growing businesses to upgrading community infrastructure, ABA Grants respond to community needs.
“I acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and dedication provided by the ABA Advisory Committee in developing recommendations on all ABA grant applications.
“Establishing the new Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation, is a wonderful achievement and another step forward to greater self‑determination for Aboriginal Territorians.
“The new process for ABA grants will give Aboriginal people in the Territory even more control over how this funding is invested, and I look forward to seeing these projects come to life.”
Quotes attributable to Senator McCarthy:
“From the Central Desert to the Top End, it’s so important to see such a significant investment in community-led projects across the Northern Territory.
“Prioritising self-determination and responsibility to Indigenous people and organisations will be critical in seeing projects succeed and accelerating our Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap”
Quotes attributable to Member for Solomon Luke Gosling:
“I’m proud to be part of a Federal Government that understands the need to invest in the Territory’s First Nations communities to help improve health, social, and economic outcomes from the ground up.
“I’m pleased to see a Darwin-based women’s shelter being supported to grow their wrap around services to further meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children escaping domestic violence.
“It’s this sort of meaningful, local investment that will help us continue addressing and improving safety and wellbeing in Top End communities, one of the best places in the world to call home.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour:
“Investments like the ABA grants are incredibly important in closing the gap and the impact that this sort of funding has for the social and economic sustainability of remote communities cannot be understated.
“Providing Aboriginal people with self-determination and greater control over decision-making gives these communities a sense of pride and attachment to the projects and the ABA Advisory Committee should be congratulated for the work that they are doing.”