Released by the minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt, the roadmap lays out a framework for actions and approaches to lift economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by strengthening industry and First Nations partnerships and connecting Indigenous Australians to jobs and industry opportunities.
The roadmap complements the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, which focuses on addressing social inequalities.
Wyatt said the roadmap provided a clear plan to get more Indigenous Australians job-ready, increase employment and entrepreneurship and provide opportunities for more Indigenous Australians to start and grow a business.
"There are immense opportunities to increase Indigenous participation in all areas of Australian industry," he said.
"The contributions of the business sector to date have been very encouraging, but we are not finished."
Wyatt said much more could be done to grow Indigenous participation, particularly in the areas of mining, energy, financial services, infrastructure, tourism, health and human services, agriculture, manufacturing, defence and international trade.
"A flourishing Indigenous business sector remains an unrealised source of economic growth for the broader Australian economy post-pandemic," he said.
"It is my dream that generations from now, we will have young Indigenous Australians from every corner of this country being extremely successful in every field of endeavour."
Constable said the minerals industry already employed a higher proportion of Indigenous Australians than other sectors, as well as about 18% of Indigenous men in remote areas, with about 10% of all mining apprentices Indigenous Australians.
"Tailored approaches to achieve Traditional Owner aspirations for jobs, skills and business opportunities for young people, to work on country and in remote communities are key," she said.
"Building on this, mining is committed to increasing the number of Indigenous Australians in leadership, professional and engineering roles, strengthening procurement practices and enhancing partnerships that support Traditional Owner social and economic priorities."
Constable said that as one of the largest customers of Indigenous businesses nationally, mining had seen firsthand the importance of business ownership and development to First Nations people and communities.
"The roadmap reinforces the need for governments to provide stable, targeted and locally-appropriate assistance as Native Title holders establish foundations and develop their own economic programs," she said.
"Under the right settings, there is also opportunity to deploy significant funds held by Traditional Owners from mining for Indigenous-led economic development."
