The First Nations Economic Partnership is a historic national agreement
The First Nations Economic Partnership is a historic national agreement between the Commonwealth Government, the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Peak Organisations, and the First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance (the Alliance).
ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ National University’s First Nations Portfolio (FNP) helped establish the Alliance in 2024 after a two-year deliberative consultation process. The University’s Vice-President (First Nations) Professor Peter Yu leads FNP and is also Chair of the Alliance.
For the Alliance, this partnership reflects years of advocacy for a comprehensive national economic policy — one that moves beyond piecemeal programs and embeds First Nations leadership, rights, interests and aspirations into the foundations of Australia’s economy.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the establishment of the First Nations Economic Partnership on 2  August 2025. Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy and the First Nations Partners signed the partnership agreement on 29 September 2025.
The partnership creates a new mechanism for shared decision-making on First Nations economic policy. It will focus on the full range of Commonwealth policy levers needed to support First Nations economic empowerment, self-determination and wealth creation.
This includes strengthening First Nations representation in economic policy, growing First Nations businesses, improving access to markets and capital, increasing employment and skills pathways, upholding rights and interests in land, sea, waterways and cultural and intellectual property, and improving data and evidence in line with Indigenous data sovereignty principles.
A major focus will be the development of a First Nations Economic Framework. This Framework will set out a long-term, comprehensive vision for economic empowerment and coordinated action across the Commonwealth Government.
Its success will depend on implementation, accountability and ongoing engagement with:
- First Nations communities
- First Nations organisations
- Indigenous businesses
- Traditional Owners
- industry
- government.
The First Nations Economic Partnership is an important step towards a stronger and more self-determined First Nations economy.
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