More ranger jobs and a new cultural precinct in the national capital have been pledged as part of the Morrison government’s latest budget.
The budget papers released on Tuesday set out $1.5 billion in spending over five years to improve outcomes for First Nations people.
Funding of $636.4 million over six years will expand the Indigenous Rangers Program, supporting up to 1089 new rangers.
The government will also provide $37.5 million to support native title holders to gain greater economic benefit from their land and $21.9 million for leadership initiatives.
As well, $316.5 million has been committed to establish Ngurra, a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural precinct in Canberra.
Ngurra will include a learning and knowledge centre, a national resting place, and a new home for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.
Targeted support for health and vaccination services for rural and remote Indigenous communities, who are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, is also being extended at a cost of $43.3 million.
In education, $29.4 million will be spent over four years to extend the Indigenous Boarding Schools Grants program and establish a Commonwealth Regional Scholarship Program to assist families with the costs of boarding.
The budget’s contingency reserve sets aside $160 million for a possible referendum on Indigenous recognition in the constitution.
AAP
