Aboriginal businesses gathered at Kimberwalli Centre for Excellence in Western Sydney to identify priorities for Closing the Gap implementation at the 2nd NSW Government’s Aboriginal Business Roundtable. 

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Hon. Ben Franklin MLC, opened the event highlighting the significance of the growth of Indigenous businesses. 

“We’re joined by the most significant business owners in Australia and we understand that part of our job in Government is to actually act for people and act for organisations. We know that there’s no silver bullet in any of these issues its about continual improvement, engagement and collaboration.” 

“We know that Aboriginal people make an extremely important contribution to the NSW economy and this is obviously exemplified in the room today with the work that each and every one of you do in your businesses.” 

The event included a robust panel and Q&A discussion, with Yarpa Hub Director, Westley Trist, as one of the panellists. 

“I see Aboriginal businesses, they want to make commercial profits because they want to feed that back into community. I see Aboriginal businesses at the core and their fundamental reasons for starting a business is having a financial and meaningful impact for their family and community.” 

Managing Director and Founder of Killara Services, Jasmine Newman, attended the event and expressed the importance of consultation.

“What I took away from the first roundtable was to persevere and attempt to break down the barriers that are there. There is opportunity – you just have to tunnel through. Today is about understanding what the NSW Government is doing with Closing the Gap and their objectives,” Ms Newman said.

The MC for the Roundtable was distinguished journalist and author Stan Grant, who led the discussion and highlighted key themes, including black cladding, blackface and streamlining bureaucracy.