The transport portfolio has significant capacity to progress Victorian Government Aboriginal affairs commitments, including through transport access to health, education, justice, training and employment services and opportunities, and enabling families and communities to stay connected. In delivering these services, the transport portfolio is committed to addressing and eliminating systemic racism and promoting cultural safety across the transport network.
Transport is also well placed to deliver local placed-based initiatives in partnership with other stakeholders that achieve multiple outcomes at once, including transport service improvements, training and jobs, and protection, promotion and celebration of Aboriginal culture and heritage through precinct upgrades.
The recent increase in size, value, geographical spread and timelines of the Victorian transport infrastructure pipeline has unlocked new opportunities to enhance Aboriginal economic participation outcomes, including through increased procurement by Aboriginal businesses, more direct employment opportunities within the portfolio, and skills exchange programs that build two-way transport and Aboriginal workforce capability.
The transport portfolio is particularly well placed to progress the following key economic targets:
- The whole-of-government target under Tharamba Bugheen - the Victorian Aboriginal Business Strategy 2017-2021 - that one percent of all contracts and purchase orders be sourced from Aboriginal businesses by 2019-2020. Supporting Aboriginal businesses in turn supports the Aboriginal workforce as Aboriginal businesses are more likely to employ Aboriginal people.
- The Major Transport Infrastructure Authority has a 2.5 per cent Aboriginal employment target (total labour hours) for its major projects, including the:
- Level Crossing Removal Project
- Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project
- West Gate Tunnel Project
- North East Link Project
- Rail Projects Victoria.
- Barring Djinang, the five-year Aboriginal Employment Strategy for the Victorian public sector, adopts a two per cent Aboriginal employment target for the Victorian public service.
- Increase Aboriginal Victorian representation on boards in the transport portfolio.
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