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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-05-19 Daily Xml
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Indigenous Businesses

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (15:15): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Will the minister inform the council about the contribution Aboriginal-owned businesses make to the South Australian economy.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Attorney-General, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for his question and his repeated interest in this chamber in areas to do with Aboriginal affairs. I am happy to report that Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and businesses make an important contribution not just to this state but to our country. They contribute to the economy, provide jobs for Aboriginal people and provide important services that many people rely upon.

Just last week, I had the opportunity to visit one such Aboriginal-owned business in Adelaide doing just that. The South Australian and Northern Territory franchise of Enterprise Car and Truck Rental based on Grange Road at Beverley is owned by Cedrent, a business that funds the Far West Coast Aboriginal Community Trust. These are innovative and expanding businesses providing important vehicle hire services in the city and across regional South Australia.

The business operates on sites across much of South Australia, including a number of outlets in the Northern Territory, Ceduna, Coober Pedy and Port Augusta, and is expanding into other areas we were informed. I was fortunate to have a look through their site at Beverley, to meet some of the people who run the business that contribute to this Aboriginal-owned and controlled enterprise. I want to thank Robert Larking from Scotdesco Aboriginal community for showing us around the site, and to the board for taking me through how the business supports work that benefits Aboriginal people on the Far West Coast through the profits the business makes.

Because an important component of this business is income that goes back to the Far West Coast Community Trust, it provides benefits for the local Aboriginal community. The Mirning, Wirangu, Kokatha, Yalata, Maralinga Tjaratja peoples and the descendants of Edward Roberts together make up the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation, a registered Native Title body, and benefit from investments like those of the Enterprise franchise.

This is just one example of an Aboriginal-owned and operated business making a contribution to our state. Across South Australia, Aboriginal businesses are not just providing quality products and services to consumers, but are also providing support to communities in a real and meaningful way.

As we head shortly into Reconciliation Week in a few weeks' time, I encourage members to look at supporting Aboriginal-owned and controlled businesses. There are a number of websites, including Supply Nation, that such businesses can be found on. Supporting Aboriginal-owned and controlled businesses is a practical way individuals can continue the work of reconciliation, and support local Aboriginal people in South Australia.

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