Federal government backs Indigenous-owned enterprise growth in Far North Queensland

Twelve First Nations-owned businesses in the Cairns and Far North Queensland region have received support through an expanded National Indigenous Australians Agency enterprise development program, with grants totalling $4.8 million and access to business development mentoring and supply chain connection services designed to strengthen the local Indigenous business economy.

The supported businesses span tourism, construction, catering, environmental services, and cultural arts, reflecting the diverse economic activities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the region. Several of the recipients are enterprises owned by individuals from the Torres Strait Islands and the Cape York Peninsula who have established mainland businesses in Cairns to access larger markets.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said the enterprise development program was central to the government's strategy for economic self-determination for First Nations people, creating the conditions for Indigenous Australians to build wealth through business ownership rather than relying solely on employment and welfare. "Strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses are the economic foundation of strong communities," she said.

The Gimuy Walubara Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation, the traditional owner body for the Cairns area, welcomed the program while noting the need for complementary investment in business premises, supply chain access, and regulatory support to allow Indigenous enterprises to compete on equal terms with non-Indigenous businesses for government procurement contracts.

Indigenous Procurement Policy data shows Commonwealth agencies in the Cairns region contracted $18 million from Indigenous suppliers in the most recent year, a 32 per cent increase over three years but still well below the 3 per cent of total contract value target set in the policy.

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