Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Australia (Ratification: 1973)

Recalling its previous comments on the disproportionately high unemployment rate of indigenous Australians compared with the non-indigenous population, the Committee notes from the Government’s report that more indigenous jobseekers benefit from Australia’s mainstream employment services (Job Network) than from all the programmes tailored to indigenous peoples combined under the Indigenous Employment Policy. In this context, the Committee notes from the Social Justice Report, 2005, that the Government abolished the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and transferred responsibility over policy-making and programme delivery to existing government departments and agencies. It notes in this regard the concerns expressed by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD/C/AUS/CO/14 of 14 April 2005)  that the abolition of ATSIC will reduce the participation of indigenous peoples in decision-making and alter the Government’s capacity to address the full range of issues relating to indigenous peoples. The Committee, therefore, asks the Government to provide further details on the impact of this reform with respect to promoting equal access to education, training and employment of indigenous Australians. It further asks the Government to continue providing statistics on employment rates for indigenous peoples to allow the Committee to measure progress in this regard. Please also keep the Committee informed of the deliberations and outcome of the ongoing inquiry into indigenous employment by the Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.