Job program to employ 50,000 Aboriginies in Australia

August 10, 2008 by Stil7

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Australia’s prime minister Kevin Rudd has pledged to raise funds for an ambitious plan to get 50,000 Aborigines into employment.

The project is the brainchild of Australia’s richest man Andrew Forrest and aims to generate 50,000 full-time permanent jobs for the Aboriginal community.

The training required to help people into work would be provided by the government, funding is set to come from major businesses, the prime minister said.

Speaking to abc.net, Mr Forrest commented: “You have a group of Aboriginal people who are currently out of work. They want one thing like you and I do and that is to get into well-paid meaningful jobs.”

He also added that though the target is ambitiously high, if achieved the programme would alter the direction of Australian employment and “social history”.

Recent figures from the Queensland treasury indicate that the unemployment rate among Aboriginals has fallen from 20.1 per cent in 2001 to 13.2 per cent this year.

Andrew Forrest announces plan - theage.com

Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson backs plan - Livenews.com.au

Andrew Forrest personal piece - The International Herald Tribune