A CATTLE business offering economic foundations and training opportunities for young people could be revived on Mornington Island, following a visit by four senators to the remote indigenous community last week.
Instigated by Senator Barry O'Sullivan, a full-day itinerary taking in discussions at the state school, hospital, council office, health summit and justice office was laid out for Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion and assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash, who were accompanied by Senator O'Sullivan and Senator Matt Canavan.
The presence of four federal government representatives on the island is believed to be a first. They were presented with a comprehensive array of problems, opportunities and challenges.
But a repeated message was the lack of job opportunities for young people who manage to complete their formal schooling.
School education services officer Craig Hansen said the most difficult thing for educators was that students didn't know where to go from school due to a lack of jobs.
Traditional dancers entertain federal Indigenous Affairs, assistant Health Minister at Mornington Island this morning pic.twitter.com/X2uHr5Hr9O
A comment that 3000 head of cattle a year were once exported to Burketown until the Brucellois and Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign culled all cattle prompted a rash of questions on how a business could be established amid native title requirements and how wages would be paid.
Mr Scullion said he had come to the island intending to help out, adding that if it was the wish of traditional owners to have cattle, he was happy to have a conversation about it in the near future.
"The advantage is that it provides a lot of employment outside of Mornington Island, with the skillsets it would give," he said.
"Senator O'Sullivan asked if we could provide funds to get a small herd. We could look at it. We would need to talk to the traditional owners but we have the capacity to make investments."
"Infrastructure would need to be reviewed but people are genuinely interested."
He said Elcho Island already had run cattle and an island provided a control advantage.
Since returning to Canberra Mr O'Sullivan has initiated talks with cattle industry figures about a possible partnership with private enterprise establishing a business model for islanders to take over and operate.
"The council has a plan to rebuild its jetty and have a freezer operation - something like this could be used for beef and dairy as well," he said.
"Land lease arrangements are possible, as is the possibility of having a topline training venue.
"Infrastructure would need to be reviewed but people are genuinely interested."
Mr O'Sullivan added that once programs became established they could become pilots for other communities, not just aboriginal ones.