All industry, not just the mining industry, can get out and give Aboriginal companies a chance.
Individuals and communities need to clearly tell government if they want parity for First Australians. Only this will overcome the vested interests of governments and administrators and see these practical, inexpensive solutions for what they are: a way to finally achieve results, with the strength of will from each of us.
I really do think I can make a contribution in helping eliminate the disparity here in Australia and doing my small bit to help eliminate slavery around the world. These are huge issues for our fellow countrymen and our fellows in the world, where slavery is growing at an alarming rate, and it needs to be arrested.
Australia has always encouraged the little bloke to have a go, the Aussie battler to get up.
I would say to young entrepreneurs and budding philanthropists - are you giving to feel good or do good?
When you're asked/told to come to Canberra by your Prime Minister, in the country I grow up in, you obey that.
Disparity is Australia's worst social problem. Thousands of lives are slowly being crushed, while billions are wasted on thousands of little initiatives trying to 'close the gap.'
I happen to be a big believer in home ownership. I'm also a big believer that if someone wants to have a crack at the mining industry in Port Hedland, then they should be able to collect their... benefits in Port Hedland even though they are from Alice Springs. It should be mobile.
There are people all over Australia who use their homes as hubs that they travel from, and they encourage their indigenous people to continue to stay there.
If you look hard at it, if you look hard at the bleeding heart attitude to always throw money at issues, throw money at problems, what you're in fact probably saying is you're exercising a prejudicism of low expectations.
You don't try and put rockets under prime ministers.
The most generous part of your philanthropy could be the time you put in to procure the same results and same outcomes and same returns you demand in business.
I will always put family first. Every time I haven't, I have regretted it and apologised.
Statistically after six months, if an Indigenous or non-Indigenous person has come off welfare, even long-term welfare, and has stuck in that's job for six months, then they've really broken in their own psychology the welfare reliance mentality. They're up on their own two feet.
We really need to change taxation policy so that it is not skewed against owning more than one house.
