Senator FERRIS —My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Senator Herron. In recent years, there have been significant improvements in the government's indigenous priority areas of health, housing, education, employment and, importantly, economic empowerment. Will the minister outline our government's role in these areas? How is it creating a better future for indigenous Australians?

Senator HERRON (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs) —I thank Senator Ferris for her question and for her continuing interest in the portfolio. There are a number of recent exciting developments in indigenous affairs which the Labor Party on the other side is obviously oblivious to, but it is important that the people of Australia, and the Senate in particular, hear about them. Recently, I had great pleasure in being part of the official launch of two indigenous businesses which are providing indigenous Australians with jobs, income and a future. The first was the opening of the new transport depot of Queensland Bulk Haulage at Cloncurry in north-western Queensland. Queensland Bulk Haulage is a joint venture partnership between Koutha Aboriginal Development Corporation, McIver Transport and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commercial Development Corporation. Queensland Bulk Haulage was awarded the road haulage contract by Ernest Henry Mining Pty Ltd by open tender to transport copper-gold concentrate from the Ernest Henry mine near Clonclurry to Mt Isa, 160 kilometres away. The joint venture is providing an income stream to local indigenous communities as well as employment and training opportunities—initially for five local Aboriginal people but more will follow.

Honourable senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! There are senators conversing across the chamber and their behaviour is disorderly.

Senator HERRON —The other new business launch I attended was for Harbour Dreaming, an indigenous tourist venture on Sydney Harbour which is operated by the Redfern Aboriginal Corporation. Harbour Dreaming offers cruises and charters for around 40 people and is well placed to take advantage of the great demand for indigenous culture during the Sydney 2000 Olympics. But it also gives the opportunity for schools and educational institutions to partake of and learn about indigenous culture. The business employs around eight Aboriginal people and will offer tourists local knowledge of Sydney's Aboriginal sites, bush tucker and traditional dance and music. Harbour Dreaming is a symbol of the sea change in indigenous affairs. Redfern Aboriginal Corporation also owns a successful construction company, a design, screen-printing and sewing workshop and other ventures.

For the past three years, the Howard government has sought to change direction in indigenous affairs. We have sought to foster economic empowerment among indigenous Australians through education, training, the creation of jobs and the development of successful indigenous businesses. I am pleased to say that the government has assisted in the creation of many indigenous enterprises over those past three years, including the two that I have mentioned, Queensland Bulk Haulage and Harbour Dreaming. Through ATSIC, this government has provided loans and grants to more than 700 indigenous individuals, businesses and partnerships. Funding for indigenous specific programs has increased substantially in real terms under this government, from $350 million in 1979-80 to a record $2.2 billion this year—a substantial improvement.

There have been dramatic improvements in the number of indigenous Australians attending university, from 1,600 in 1990 to almost 8,000 now. Four years ago there were just 800 indigenous Australians learning trades through apprenticeships and the like, and today, through active government participation, there are 4,800. I am pleased to announce today that there are now 44,000 indigenous people enrolled in vocational education and training courses, representing one in five indigenous adults. That is what I want the opposition to hear about and the Australian public to learn about. The government has also established a $115 million indigenous employment package to encourage the full-time employment of indigenous Australians in mainstream commerce and businesses.

The key to the future for indigenous economic development is independence from the welfare system, so fostered by the Labor Party in their 13 wasted years. As a government, we have sought to change direction in indigenous affairs away from welfare dependency. (Time expired)

Senator FERRIS —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. I find the statistics that he is giving very interesting, and I wonder if he has any further statistics on economic independence?

Senator HERRON (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs) —I thank Senator Ferris. We have not just focused on education, training, employment and economic development; the government's other priorities are health and housing. Today, the principal threats to Aboriginal health, especially adult health, come less from infectious diseases associated with environmental or living conditions than from contemporary lifestyle influences such as tobacco and substance misuse and resultant behavioural problems, including violence and injury. Twenty years ago the indigenous infant mortality rate was twenty times the non-indigenous rate, and today it has been slashed by over 75 per cent to a level equivalent to that of non-indigenous Australians in the early 1960s.

There are many more statistics that I can provide. I would invite anybody who is listening today—particularly the Labor Party, but anybody who is listening today—and who wishes to be further informed on this subject to ring, as I would be happy to provide that information.