$59,000 investment for Cherbourg’s Barambah Pottery

9 July 2018

$59,000 investment for Cherbourg’s Barambah Pottery
The Coalition Government is providing a $59,000 grant to Cherbourg Historical Precinct Group Inc to re-open Barambah Pottery in Cherbourg, as part of its $115 million Indigenous Entrepreneurs Package election commitment.

Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, and the Member for Wide Bay, Llew O’Brien, said this investment to re-establish a pottery workshop, a sales centre and a new café, wold deliver a fantastic boost for the local Cherbourg and wider South Burnett economy.
 
“The Prime Minister made a commitment to doing things with Indigenous Australians, and through the Indigenous Entrepreneurs Fund we are working to support the economic aspirations of innovative Indigenous businesses particularly in regional and remote areas,” Minister Scullion said.
 
“There are many Indigenous entrepreneurs whose business ideas have the potential to transform their communities but they just need a hand to get started. Through this Package, we are giving Indigenous entrepreneurs a fair go.
 
“We also know that successful Indigenous businesses are key to improving employment rates for First Australians – an Indigenous business is 100 times more likely to employ an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person than a non-Indigenous business.”
 
Mr O’Brien said he was pleased to announce the Coalition Government was backing local entrepreneurs and businesses in the electorate of Wide Bay.
 
“Through the investment, Cherbourg Historical Precinct Group Inc will be able to fit out a building in Cherbourg to provide a space for making pottery items, art display for sale and a café. This project will create jobs in sales and administration at Barambah Pottery as well as for Cherbourg artists,” Mr O’Brien said.
 
“The sale of pottery and other art works along with the café will help to build the capacity of the Cherbourg community and provide income for Cherbourg residents.
 
“The pottery scene has recently been re-invigorated in Cherbourg and this project to re-establish the Barambah Pottery is the next logical step to help it grow and provide more jobs, skills development and economic growth for Cherbourg.”
 
Minister Scullion said this initiative complements the Coalition’s broader Indigenous economic development agenda including the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) that has resulted in over 1000 Indigenous businesses winning over $1 billion in contracts in the first 2 ½ years of the IPP.

“A spectacular success compared to the former policies under Labor, which resulted in just $6.2 million worth of contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses in 2012-13.”
ENDS