Personal income data from the 2021 Census shows that the median personal income for Indigenous Australians (aged 15 and over) in 2021 was $540 per week (
Verdict. Warren Mundine's statement uses the most accurate and up-to-date estimate of government spending on Indigenous Australians – about $30.3 billion, according to the Productivity Commission.
PovertyWho is affected? This graph shows that the poverty rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is 31%, and that poverty amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is twice as high in very remote communities (54%) as in major cities (24%).
There are some amounts don't need to be include as income in your tax return. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Indigenous holding entities don't need to pay income tax or capital gains tax on native title payments or benefits.
The New South Wales Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme provides ex-gratia payments of $75,000 to living Stolen Generations survivors who were removed from their families and committed to the care of the New South Wales Aborigines Protection or Welfare Boards.
While Indigenous Australians are earning more, the difference in pay has actually widened. In 2006, the average disposable income for an Indigenous Australian was 72% that of a non-Indigenous Australian. In 2011, it fell to 70%.
High unemployment and lasting impacts from colonialism have caused low income in Aboriginal homes. Today, people often find that Aboriginal communities in non-rural areas live off welfare in crowded housing.
Estimates from the 2021 ABS Census indicate that around 24,900 Indigenous Australians were homeless on Census night (3.1% of the Indigenous population) (ABS 2023b).
Although Indigenous Australians comprise 3 per cent of Australia's population, they are 15 times more likely than non-Indigenous people to be homeless or at risk of homelessness.
For Indigenous Australians, Age Pension: 53%, Total: 53%, JobSeeker Payment: 28%, Youth Allowance (other): 20%, Disability Support Pension: 10%, Youth Allowance (student and apprentice): 1%, Parenting Payment (single): 8%, Carer Payment: 3%, Parenting Payment (partnered): 2%, ABSTUDY (Living Allowance): 2%.
The Aboriginal people living in social housing are exempt from Stamp Duty as per Section 278 of the Duties Act 1997 (NSW).
IBA housing loans are available to Aboriginal people buying or building , in most cases, their first home and who are unable to borrow all of the required funds from another lender (for example, a bank or credit union).
The National Indigenous Australians Agency funds projects aimed at helping Indigenous Australians. Funding is allocated through: the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS), National Partnership Agreements, Special Accounts and Special Appropriations.
Home ownership increased to 42.3% of households in 2021, up from 39.6% in 2016. Four in five people (81.4%) lived in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) dwellings in 2021, up from 78.9% in 2016. The median weekly rent was $300 in 2021, while the median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,721.
Now in September 1967, the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission decided to remove the racially discriminatory clause from the Federal Pastoral Industry Award, and equal wages for Aboriginal pastoral workers were phased in from December 1968 in the Kimberley region in the far north of Western Australia.
New South Wales
One-third (32.7%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in NSW lived in Greater Sydney in 2021.
Approximately 50 per cent of Indigenous adults are reliant on some form of welfare payment and for young people (aged 15 to 24 years) the proportion is only slightly lower.
The figure shows that in 2022, the highest proportion of Indigenous Australians lived in New South Wales (33.2%), followed by Queensland (28.2%) and Western Australia (12.5%).
Consistent with many previous studies, Indigenous Australians have, on average, lower total income than non-Indigenous Australians, with this difference being largest for those who are full-time employed. The difference is also larger for males compared to females.
Reasons for the lower employment rates include lower levels of education, training and skill levels (human capital), poorer health, living in areas with fewer labour market opportunities, higher levels of arrest and interactions with the criminal justice system, discrimination, and lower levels of job retention .
Aboriginal peoples were traditionally hunters and gatherers who did not live in one place. They moved around their Country in search of food. Within the clan, all members had specific roles and responsibilities to ensure the survival of their community.
Letter from an Indigenous organisation or Community Elder
We prefer a letter from an Indigenous organisation to confirm your heritage. However, we will also accept a letter from a Community Elder. Use the Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent letter to confirm your heritage.
The three criteria are: being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent identifying as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person being accepted as such by the community in which you live, or formerly lived.
Eligibility Summary
To be eligible for up to $1,000 in funding for claimable funeral expenses, the Aboriginal person must be buried within NSW (regardless of if they resided in NSW or not) or be a member of the NSW local Aboriginal Land Council (regardless of if they resided in or are buried in NSW).