2024-2025 Federal Budget - Indigenous Affairs

Australian Universities Accord - Tertiary education system reforms

The Government will provide $1.1 billion over five years from 2023-24 (and an additional $2.7 billion from 2028-29 to 2034-35) for the first stage of reforms to Australia's tertiary education system in response to the Australian Universities Accord Final Report. These reforms will boost equity and access to higher education, progress tertiary harmonisation and will support a target of 80 per cent of the working-age population holding a tertiary qualification by 2050. Funding includes:

• $427.4 million over four years from 2024-25 (and an additional $1.2 billion from 2028-29 to 2034-35) to establish a new Commonwealth Prac Payment of $319.5 per week (benchmarked to the single Austudy rate) from 1 July 2025 for tertiary students undertaking supervised mandatory placements as part of their nursing (including midwifery), teaching or social work studies
• $350.3 million over four years from 2024-25 (and an additional $1.1 billion from 2028-29 to 2034-35) to expand access to university enabling and preparation programs through a new FEE-FREE Uni Ready Courses program from 1 January 2025
• $239.7 million over five years from 2023-24 (and an additional $250.5 million from 2028-29 to 2034-35) to limit the indexation of the Higher Education Loan Program (and other student loans) debt to the lower of either the Consumer Price Index or the Wage Price Index, effective from 1 June 2023, subject to the passage of legislation. This applies retrospectively and is estimated to reduce outstanding loans by around $3.0 billion

The Government will also undertake a strategic examination of Australia's research and development system to strengthen its alignment with Australia's priorities and improve innovation and research and development outcomes. Higher education providers will also be required to direct a minimum of 40 per cent of their Student Services and Amenities Fee revenue to student-led organisations from 1 January 2025. Details of the following reforms to boost equity and access to higher education and to progress tertiary harmonisation will be announced once final consultations with relevant stakeholders have completed:

• The Australian Tertiary Education Commission which is intended to be established by 1 July 2025, will be responsible for tertiary education system stewardship, delivery of funding arrangements for higher education, ongoing tertiary harmonisation and data collection and reporting
• Managed growth funding for universities is intended to commence from 1 January 2026. This approach will more accurately reflect student demand, support efficient growth in places, and help Australia to reach its tertiary attainment target
• A needs-based funding system is intended to be implemented from 1 January 2026 to better support First Nations students, students from low socio-economic status backgrounds, students with disability and students studying in regional and remote Australia.

Budget Speech p 5
Budget Speech p 11
Budget Paper No 2 p 62
Budget Overview p 36
Women's Budget Statement p 51
Regional Ministerial Budget Statement p 39
Easing cost-of-living pressures p 2
Media Release

Establishment of the Administrative Review Tribunal and Addressing Extremely High Migration Backlogs in the Courts

The Government will provide $1.0 billion over five years from 2023-24 (with $210.8 million per year ongoing from 2028-29 and an additional $194.2 million from 2028-29 to 2035-36) to establish and support the sustainable operation of the new Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), replacing the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), and to address court backlogs associated with high numbers of applications for judicial review of migration decisions. Funding for the commencement of the ART includes:

• $854.3 million over four years from 2024-25 (and $208.8 million per year ongoing) for a capped, flexible demand-driven funding model for the ART, enabling it to finalise 100 per cent of case lodgements each year, and including improved regional accessibility and piloting First Nations Liaison Officer and user experience and accessibility programs

The cost of this measure will be partially met from within the existing resourcing of the AAT, (with the AAT's total annual appropriation transferring to the ART on the ART's commencement), the Department of Social Services, Department of Veterans' Affairs and the National Disability Insurance Agency. The cost of this measure will also be partially offset from federal court application fees. This measure builds on the 2023-24 Budget measures titled Institutional Reform to Australia's System of Federal Administrative Review and Continuation of Immigration Assessment Authority and the 2023-24 MYEFO measure titled Migration System Integrity.

Budget Paper No 2 p 49

Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program

The Government will provide $777.4 million over five years from 2023-24 (and $255.5 million per year ongoing) to establish the Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program, which will create 3,000 jobs in remote Australia and support income support recipients move into paid employment. Funding includes:

• $188.7 million over four years from 2024-25 (and $61.2 million per year ongoing) for a Community Jobs and Business Fund, to support community development and the creation of employment opportunities through funding capital, equipment and capacity building services
• $45.5 million over three years from 2024-25 to extend the current Community Development Program (CDP) provider arrangements from 31 October 2024 to 30 June 2025 - when a new remote employment services program will replace the current CDP provider arrangements - and provide supplementary funding to support the increased caseload following impacts of COVID-19, to provide continuity of support to participants who are not job-ready or able to commence employment under the Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program

The cost of this measure will be partially met by a reprioritisation of funding from the 2023-24 Budget measure titled Closing the Gap - further investment and within the existing resources of the National Indigenous Australians Agency.

Budget Paper No 2 p 162
Budget Overview p 54

Northern Territory Homelands and Housing

The Government will provide $839.4 million over five years from 2023-24 (and $2.1 billion over ten years from 2024-25) to accelerate housing delivery in remote Northern Territory communities and increase investment in homelands. This will reduce overcrowding and improve housing quality, making significant progress under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Funding includes:

• $698.4 million over four years from 2024-25 (and $2.0 billion over ten years from 2024-25) to enter into a 10-year remote housing agreement with the Northern Territory Government to reduce overcrowding in remote Northern Territory communities. The Northern Territory Government has committed to match the Commonwealth's remote housing investment, bringing the total investment to $4.0 billion
• $120.0 million over three years from 2024-25 to continue the delivery of urgent repairs and maintenance of existing housing and essential infrastructure through an extension of the Northern Territory Homelands Federation Funding Agreement
• $20.0 million in 2023-24 to deliver an additional 49 houses under the existing Remote Housing Northern Territory Federation Funding Agreement, in partnership with and jointly funded by the Northern Territory Government, delivering a total of 206 houses under the one-year agreement.

Budget Speech p 8
Budget Paper No 2 p 160
Budget Overview p 22
Women's Budget Statement p 26
Regional Ministerial Budget Statement p 85
Delivering a better deal for small businesses p 7
Media Release

Revive - National Cultural Policy

The Government will provide $216.6 million over four years from 2024-25 (and $59.9 million per year ongoing) to further support Australia's arts, entertainment and cultural sector under the National Cultural Policy - Revive. Funding includes:

• $53.8 million over four years from 2024-25 (and $17.8 million per year ongoing) to establish two new First Nations language centres, increase funding for existing language centres and for community language learning to increase the number of First Nations language speakers

The cost of this measure will be partially met by redirecting funding from the Location Incentive Program.

Budget Paper No 2 p 151

Further Investment to Closing the Gap

The Government will provide $151.4 million over four years from 2024-25 (including $3.0 million in capital funding in 2024-25) to accelerate progress under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and deliver better outcomes for First Nations peoples, including:

• $111.1 million in 2024-25 to including health, safety, well-being, schooling and justice services maintain delivery of critical services provided under the National Partnership on Northern Territory Remote Aboriginal Investment

The Government has already provided partial funding for this measure, with the remaining cost of this measure to be met from within existing resources of the National Indigenous Australians Agency. The Government will redirect $20.0 million over two years from 2023-24 towards other priorities within the Indigenous Australians portfolio by not proceeding with Local and Regional Voice arrangements, consistent with the outcome of the 2023 Referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. The Treasury manages Commonwealth payments to the states and territories. This measure builds on the 2023-24 Budget measure Closing the Gap - further investment.

Budget Speech p 15
Budget Paper No 2 p 158
Media Release

National Strategies for Bloodborne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections - Continuation and expansion

The Government will provide $126.5 million over two years from 2024-25 to extend and expand activities to support the prevention, testing and treatment of bloodborne viruses and sexually transmissible infections, including support for First Nations communicable disease services. Funding includes:

• $32.3 million over two years from 2024-25 to continue support and promote vaccination uptake in First Nations communities
• $28.6 million over two years from 2024-25 to continue support and expand syphilis and sexually transmissible infections testing in First Nations communities
• $17.5 million over two years from 2024-25 to support continued delivery of the national bloodborne viruses and sexually transmissible infections strategies, including to implement culturally-safe sexual health services for First Nations peoples
• $16.5 million over two years from 2024-25 to continue and expand communicable disease molecular point of care testing for First Nations, rural and remote communities.

Budget Speech p 15
Budget Paper No 118
Budget Overview p 54

First Nations Prison to Employment Program

The Government will provide $76.2 million over five years from 2023-24 (and $18.7 million per year ongoing) to implement a new voluntary prison to employment transition program for First Nations people aged 15 years and over who are incarcerated with a known release date or are on remand. The program will be progressively rolled out from 1 July 2025. The new program will support the economic security of First Nations people by providing pre-release and post-release support services to assist them to reintegrating into their communities and preparing to enter or re-enter the labour market, and will:

• introduce and support a greater diversity of service providers, including First Nations organisations that have strong local connections and the capability to deliver trauma-informed and culturally safe mentoring and assistance to First Nations people
• provide funding to support the National Indigenous Employment and Training Alliance to operate as a First Nations employment services peak body and help build the capacity of the Aboriginal community-controlled sector as they prepare for the new program
• establish a grant process to support small-scale prison-to-work projects that support job creation opportunities for First Nations participants.

This program will replace the Time to Work Employment Service program. The cost of this measure will be met from savings identified in the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio.

Budget Speech p 15
Budget Paper No 2 p 93
Regional Ministerial Budget Statement p 41
Media Release

National Legal Assistance Partnership

The Government will provide additional funding of $44.1 million in 2024-25 to support the National Legal Assistance Partnership and Family Violence Prevention Legal Services, including one-year indexation supplementation to the funding for Legal Aid Commissions, Community Legal Centres and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, and additional funding to reduce community legal sector pay disparity. The Treasury manages Commonwealth payments to the states and territories.

Budget Paper No 2 p 51
Regional Ministerial Budget Statement p 19
Media Release

Future Made in Australia - Attracting investment in key industries

The Government will provide $68.0 million over four years from 2024-25 (and $3.1 million per year ongoing) to attract investment in key industries to support a Future Made in Australia. Funding includes:

• $54.7 million over two years from 2024-25 to administer, coordinate and promote the Government's Future Made in Australia agenda, including the development of legislation that establishes a National Interest Framework and consultation with industry, investors and major stakeholders on the development of a 'single front door' that improves the attraction and facilitation of major investment proposals

The Government also intends to enhance Indigenous Business Australia's ability to leverage their capital to invest in First Nations communities and businesses.

Budget Speech p 9
Budget Paper No 2 p 65
Budget Overview p 30
A Future Made in Australia p 5
Media Release

Enhancing First Nations Justice Policy Outcomes

The Government will provide $43.1 million over four years from 2024-25 (and $3.6 million per year ongoing) to improve justice outcomes for First Nations individuals and families. The cost of this measure will be partially met from savings identified in the 2024-25 Budget measure titled Attorney-General's - reprioritisation. Parts of this measure support the implementation of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-32.

Budget Paper No 2 p 48
Media Release

Management of Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea Cross Border Health Issues

The Government will provide $31.4 million over four years from 2024-25 to continue programs to prevent, protect and control communicable diseases in the Torres Strait Islands and Far North Queensland. Funding includes:

• $23.1 million over four years from 2024-25 to continue funding health facilities in the Torres Strait and the broader Queensland health system to provide health services to Papua New Guinea nationals who travel through the Torres Strait Protected Zone
• $4.5 million over four years from 2024-25 to continue funding for primary healthcare staff and healthcare workers to reduce the risks and prevalence of communicable diseases, blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections in the Torres Strait region
• $3.8 million over four years from 2024-25 to continue funding for exotic mosquito control and prevention activities in the Torres Strait Protected Zone and awareness of associated mosquito-borne diseases.

Budget Paper No 2 p 114