Exploring Aboriginal people's hopes for the coming Federal election, I had the opportunity to interview First Nations entrepreneur, Tony Martens from Cairns, Far North Queensland. He is Gunggandji from Yarrabah, and Kokoberra from Kowanyama, Cape York.

Resident of Cairns, in the seat of Leichhardt, where the long-time LNP/Liberal member Warren Entsch is retiring, and seven white male candidates have lined up for the 2025 election, Tony is optimistic that politicians are supportive of change.

Leichhardt is a marginal seat, held by only 3.4 per cent of the vote. It is twice the size of Tasmania, the third largest electorate in Queensland. While over 80 per cent of the population live in the Cairns area, the seat spreads out north of Mossman to include Cape York north of the Mitchell River and the Torres Strait Islands. More than 16 per cent of the electorate identifies as First Nations.

With his brother Ashley Martens, Tony owns and operates a group of companies of which Australian Training Works (ATW) has been their core business for almost ten years. They have considerable success in facilitating employment, primarily of First Nations people, into apprenticeships, traineeships, and broader employment opportunities, across all sectors and potentially in every state and territory.

The company has won several awards for service delivery to Queenslanders, identified as a leader in the employment and training sector by the Queensland government, and was the Queensland finalist in the prestigious National Telstra Business Award in 2024. They have offices in Cairns, Brisbane and Wollongong.

Mr Martens says: "If you walk through the streets of Cairns, you'll find that ATW is the only 100 per cent First Nation's commercially owned and operated business that has a shopfront. We hear of the commitment from governments for the development of First Nations economic initiatives, but it is not happening on the ground. North Queensland has a high population of First Nations people and that ours is the only business with a shopfront is a major concern."

He says it is crucial that the incoming government develop strategies for First Nations economic participation, particularly through business development.

"First Nations people need to be more involved in the delivery of Australian Government services. If the major programs, such as CDEP, were delivered by First Nations people, we would be closing the gap," he said.

"Unfortunately, service providers who are not First Nations have been awarded contracts for decades, with the infrastructure and the resources to be able to outstrip the new players in the tender process. However, they are not effective in what they do, there is a record of systemic failure in outcomes for First Nations people, over decades.

"They are also guilty of Black cladding - that is, they have a sole First Nations person who provides a cosmetic touch, the illusion of being a First Nations business. This is an area where government needs to commit to a constant review to prevent fraud.

"If we are to be serious about development as a nation, addressing Closing the Gap targets and the effective delivery of programs to raise people out of poverty, then the recognition and building of First Nations economic development capability is a priority - there needs to be a levelling of the playing field."

Mr Martens says he will vote for the party that comes out strongly with a policy that reflects this commitment.

Leichhardt has a significant First Nations population and approximately 9000 people were not on the electoral roll in 2019. With an electoral margin of approximately 5000 votes, there is an opportunity for the First Nations vote to influence the election outcome.

Dr Victoria Grieves Williams is Warraimaay from the midnorth coast of NSW and an historian.