Aboriginal employment service laments reported demise of Green Army

Written on the 13 December 2016

An Aboriginal employment service in the Kimberley says the best Indigenous employment program in years will be lost if the Green Army initiative is axed as reported.

Aboriginal trainees make up 90 per cent of participants in Mamabulanjin Aboriginal Corporation's Green Army program in the coastal town of Broome, according to operations manager Matt Wagner.

"They absolutely love it. It puts them in a work-like environment that most programs don't do," Mr Wagner said.

"We've got the kids actually showing up at 7, 7.30 in the morning and then waiting at the front gate to actually get in and start work."

There have been reports the employment project will be scrapped, with some of the funds saved to be diverted to Landcare, as part of a deal with the Greens on the backpacker tax.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull declined to clarify the future of the Green Army ahead of the mid-year budget update later this month, leaving the project's future in doubt.

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Source:  ABC Kimberley