New NSW Aboriginal Business Taskforce to Drive Economic Growth

The NSW Government has launched a new Aboriginal Business Taskforce to support the growth and success of Aboriginal businesses across the state. Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, David Harris, announced the initiative today at the NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce in Redfern.

Closing the Gap Through Economic Prosperity

The Minns Labor Government has made Closing the Gap a priority, with a specific focus on Aboriginal economic empowerment, job creation, and business development. This taskforce is a direct outcome of that commitment.

“Economic empowerment and business development are critical to the socio-economic growth of Aboriginal communities,” Minister Harris said.

The taskforce consists of experienced Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business leaders who will advise the NSW Government on strategies to support the Aboriginal business sector.

Taskforce Members

Former Sydney Swans star and 2014 Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, now CEO of the Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium, is among the eight appointees to the taskforce:

✅ Adam Goodes
✅ Doug Delaney
✅ Luke McIlroy-Ranga
✅ Malinda Rutter
✅ Melissa Fletcher
✅ Phillip Usher
✅ Sharon Winsor
✅ Terri-Anne Daniel

The taskforce will play a crucial role in the NSW Roadmap for Aboriginal Business Growth and the bi-annual Aboriginal Business Roundtables, ensuring that Aboriginal business voices are heard in government decision-making.

Why Supporting Aboriginal Businesses Matters

Research shows that Aboriginal businesses drive significant economic and social value:

📈 For every $1 in revenue, certified Indigenous businesses generate $4.41 in economic and social impact (Federal Department of Industry, Science and Resources).

📈 Aboriginal-owned businesses are 100 times more likely to employ Aboriginal people (NSW Treasury First Nations Women’s Economic Participation Review, 2023).

📈 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses employ over 116,000 people and generate more than $16 billion in revenue annually (Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership).

“When Aboriginal businesses thrive, communities thrive. We’re not just creating jobs; we’re fostering independence, self-determination, and long-term prosperity,” said taskforce member Terri-Anne Daniel.

Commitment to Aboriginal Business Success

Minister for Small Business Steve Kamper reinforced the government’s commitment:

“The NSW Government is dedicated to removing barriers and empowering Aboriginal business owners at every stage of their journey.”

Taskforce member Adam Goodes also highlighted the sector’s potential:

“The Indigenous business sector is the fastest-growing in Australia. This taskforce will help the NSW Government support Indigenous businesses so they can continue to grow and contribute to our communities.”

Looking Ahead

With the Aboriginal Business Taskforce now established, NSW aims to lead the nation in economic prosperity for Aboriginal businesses. This initiative will help drive policy changes, increase opportunities, and ensure long-term success for Aboriginal entrepreneurs and communities.

Households and Businesses Urged to Prevent Waste Truck Fires by Properly Disposing of Batteries

By Jeff Gibbs

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) are calling on households and businesses to keep batteries and consumer electronics out of general waste bins to reduce the risk of garbage truck fires.

The Growing Danger of Battery-Related Fires

Improper disposal of lithium-based batteries has led to a surge in waste truck and recycling facility fires, with over 10,000 battery-related fires recorded across Australia’s waste and recycling systems each year.

NHVR Chief Operations Officer, Paul Salvati, warned that even a small battery-powered device can cause significant damage:

“A single battery or electronic device can trigger a fire, releasing toxic gases and forcing trucks to dump burning waste, creating environmental contamination and endangering workers and the public.”

How to Properly Dispose of Batteries and Electronics

A recent Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) survey revealed that 39% of Australians don’t know how to correctly dispose of lithium-based batteries or consumer electronics.

To safely dispose of batteries:

• Tape the terminals with clear sticky tape (to prevent short circuits)
• Take them to a local recycling centre or a participating store (e.g., hardware or grocery stores with battery collection programs)
• Businesses can arrange commercial e-waste collection through designated waste management services

Call for Increased Public Education

ACOR Chief Executive Officer, Suzanne Toumbourou, stressed the urgent need for better public awareness:

“We are seeing more batteries and electronics incorrectly placed in household and commercial waste bins. These items cause fires at every stage—trucks, transfer stations, and recycling facilities—threatening workers’ safety and damaging critical infrastructure.”

ACOR is urging governments to expand education campaigns so more people understand how to dispose of these materials correctly.

Industry Safety Measures to Reduce Fire Risks

While waste truck drivers cannot easily detect battery-powered devices once loaded, industry safety measures can help reduce fire hazards. Salvati emphasised the importance of:

• Equipping waste trucks with tested fire control systems
• Ensuring drivers are trained in fire safety protocols

Resources for Safe Disposal

The Recycle Mate app provides nationwide, location-based guidance on where to dispose of batteries and e-waste safely.

Businesses can refer to the Waste and Recycling Industry Code of Practice for best practices in heavy vehicle safety and risk management.

By taking simple steps, households and businesses can help prevent dangerous waste truck fires—protecting workers, the community, and the environment.

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Trump’s Steel Tariffs: Potential Blow to Australia’s Metal Industry

By Jeff Gibbs

U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports are reigniting fears of global trade disruption, with Australia’s $113 billion metal industry potentially caught in the crossfire. While Australia’s direct steel and aluminium exports to the U.S. are relatively modest—around $1 billion in 2023, according to UN Comtrade—the ripple effects of protectionist measures could significantly impact prices, jobs, and competitiveness across the country.

A Small but Vulnerable Market Share

Australia’s direct exports to the U.S. include $500 million of aluminium and $400 million of steel, representing just 10% of total metal exports. Still, industry experts warn that the secondary impacts—global oversupply, price hikes, and increased competition in Asia—could pose a much larger threat.

Mark Wilson, CEO of the Australian Steel Institute, expressed concern over how global price instability could harm local businesses.
“While our direct exposure to the U.S. market is limited, Australia cannot operate in isolation from the global market,” Wilson said. “U.S. tariffs would flood the Asian market with cheap steel, making it difficult for Australian producers to compete and driving down prices. This will hit regional economies like Port Kembla and Whyalla hard.”

Aluminium Industry Braces for Impact

The Australian Aluminium Council sees particular risks for the aluminium sector, which relies on international markets for a large share of its business.

Rachel Green, spokesperson for the Council, highlighted the vulnerability of the industry.
“Our aluminium exports to the U.S. may not be as large as China’s, but every lost contract has a real impact on jobs and production,” Green said. “Australia’s aluminium producers are already under pressure from rising energy costs and supply chain disruptions. If tariffs make it harder to compete internationally, we’ll see that pressure intensify.”

Aluminium is critical to industries such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and packaging, making access to global markets essential for Australian producers.

Infrastructure and Manufacturing at Risk

Beyond direct exports, the construction and manufacturing sectors in Australia may also face rising costs if global steel and aluminium prices spike due to U.S. protectionist policies. This could delay major infrastructure projects and increase costs for renewable energy development and vehicle manufacturing.

David King, a senior economist at the Grattan Institute, warned that increased volatility could undermine Australia’s infrastructure pipeline.
“If steel prices rise significantly, it could add hundreds of millions of dollars in additional costs to large projects,” King said. “This would ultimately hit taxpayers and slow the rollout of critical infrastructure.”

Manufacturers dependent on affordable steel and aluminium may also have to pass rising costs on to consumers, affecting sectors like construction, white goods, and renewable energy products.

The Geopolitical Tightrope

Australia’s response to U.S. tariffs could also have far-reaching diplomatic consequences, forcing the country to balance its long-standing alliance with the U.S. and its economic reliance on China—Australia’s largest trading partner.

Dr. Peter Collins, a trade policy expert at the University of Sydney, sees a complex diplomatic challenge.
“Backing the U.S. on tariffs could risk economic retaliation from China, which would be catastrophic for Australia’s broader export market,” Dr. Collins said. “But opposing the U.S. could strain diplomatic relations, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, where security cooperation is vital.”

Strategies for Mitigation

Experts are calling on the Australian government to proactively engage in diplomacy and prepare contingency plans. Several strategies have been recommended to mitigate the potential impacts:

• Diplomatic lobbying to secure an exemption, as Australia successfully did in 2018.
• Diversifying export markets in Asia and Europe to reduce reliance on U.S. demand.
• Investing in advanced manufacturing, enabling local industries to create value-added products and reduce dependence on commodity exports.
• Strengthening regional trade agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to open up alternative markets.

Conclusion: Preparing for the Worst

While Australia’s direct exposure to Trump’s Steel Tariffs may seem small, the knock-on effects could be significant. Price volatility, global oversupply, and heightened competition in Asia are all potential risks that could affect not just the metal industry but also infrastructure, manufacturing, and regional jobs.

“We’ve been here before, and we’ve seen the damage these tariffs can do,” said Mark Wilson of the Australian Steel Institute. “This time, we need to be prepared—not reactive.”

As the world braces for another round of trade tensions, Australia must act swiftly to protect its industries and position itself for long-term resilience. The stakes are too high to ignore.

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Australian Unemployment Rises to 10.1% in January Amid Growing Workforce

By Robert Heyward

In January 2025, Australia’s real unemployment increased by 78,000 people to 1,620,000, reaching 10.1% of the workforce (up 0.4%). The rise in unemployment was driven by more people entering the workforce, with many struggling to secure jobs.

The total Australian workforce reached a record 16,115,000, an increase of 297,000 from December. Both employment and unemployment grew, with employment rising by 219,000 to a new high of 14,495,000, while unemployment also climbed.

Employment Growth Driven by Full-Time Jobs

January saw a surge in full-time employment, which increased by 306,000 to 9,629,000—a new record. In contrast, part-time employment dropped for the second consecutive month, falling by 87,000 to 4,866,000.

Unemployment Rises with Workforce Expansion

• Unemployed Australians: 1,620,000 (10.1% of workforce, up 78,000 from December)
• Looking for part-time work: 837,000 (up 36,000)
• Looking for full-time work: 783,000 (up 42,000)

Unemployment & Underemployment Hit Highest Levels Since 2021

Total unemployment and under-employment rose to 21.4% (up 1.1%), the highest rate since January 2021.

• Under-employed Australians (working part-time but seeking more work): 1.81 million (11.3% of workforce, up 137,000)
• Total Australians unemployed or under-employed: 3.43 million (21.4% of workforce)

Comparison to Two Years Ago

The workforce has grown 1,090,000 since January 2023, with employment rising 1,077,000 in that time. However, the increase in workforce participation is outpacing job availability, driving up unemployment rates.

The January unemployment estimates were obtained from Roy Morgan’s national survey of Australians aged 14+, classifying individuals as unemployed if they are actively looking for work.

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Labor’s National Small Business Strategy Criticised as “All Spin, No Substance”

By Robert Heyward

The Albanese Government’s recently released National Small Business Strategy has drawn sharp criticism, with claims that it offers little in the way of new policies or tangible support for Australia’s struggling small business sector.

Since Labor took office, more than 27,000 businesses have closed, making December 2024 the worst quarter for insolvencies on record, with nearly 4,000 closures. Critics argue the strategy does nothing to address these challenges.

Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan described the strategy as a glossy PR exercise, filled with stock images and vague promises rather than practical solutions.

“A third of the document is taken up by cover pages, artwork, and photos—many of which aren’t even Australian businesses,” Mr. Hogan said. “We’ve got images of a New Jersey bakery and two American carpenters from a Bank of America campaign.”

Mr. Hogan has called on Labor to disclose how much taxpayer money was spent on the report, suggesting it offers no meaningful assistance to the small business community.

“My advice to small businesses is don’t bother printing it—it’s not worth the paper it’s printed on,” he said.

No New Policies or Relief

Critics argue that instead of introducing fresh initiatives, the strategy merely repackages existing policies and provides vague commitments to “continuing meetings” and “working together.” Meanwhile, small businesses continue to grapple with rising costs, increased insolvencies, and the broader economic pressures of Labor’s industrial relations reforms.

“Small businesses deserve better than Labor’s empty gestures and foreign stock photos,” Mr. Hogan said. “It’s time for real policies that actually help the people who keep our economy running.”

Coalition Promises Support for Small Business

Mr. Hogan outlined the Coalition’s commitment to small businesses, emphasising a strong pro-business platform that includes:

• Reversing complex industrial relations reforms introduced by Labor
• Cutting red and green tape to reduce regulatory burdens
• Delivering cheaper, cleaner, and consistent energy

“A Coalition Government will back small businesses as the key driver of economic growth and security,” he said. “We will be unashamedly pro-small business and deliver real reforms to help this vital sector get back on track.”

The National Small Business Strategy has sparked broader debate over the government’s approach to supporting the sector, with industry groups and opposition leaders calling for a more comprehensive response to the ongoing pressures on Australia’s 2.4 million small businesses.

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