First Nations people, and businesses, are supercharging Australia's economic growth, and delivering bang for buck.

Contributing $16.1 billion in revenue each year, they pay $4.2 million in wages, and employ more than 116,000 people. And the First Nations economy is growing rapidly, with businesses diving into the opportunities available in construction, renewable energy, native food and fibre, fashion, information technology, and tourism sectors.

First Nations businesses and organisations have a higher social return on investment than many businesses in mainstream industries – for every dollar of revenue spent, First Nations enterprises create about $4.41 of economic and social value. They're also 40 to 100 times more likely to employ First Nations Australians.

And we're smashing it internationally - First Nations exporters generated over $670 million in revenue in 2022-23.

We're a community of excellence with so much to offer. With the right support and investment, we can thrive even further. Yet, as we prepare for the 2025 Federal Election, all this is at risk.

Since coming into government in 2022, the Albanese Labor Government has made important investments in strengthening our families and communities. The focus has been on creating sustainable opportunities that empower First Nations Australians to fully participate in the economy.

We're building a Future Made in Australia to stimulate investment and unlock opportunities for First Nations businesses and Traditional Owner groups to lead and benefit from the clean energy transformation.

We've made critical investments to make sure the job opportunities are there. The Albanese Labor Government has created more than one million jobs since we were elected in 2022 —more than any government in a single parliamentary term. And we're investing in remote communities. Our remote jobs program will create 3,000 jobs in communities that have missed out under a decade of coalition neglect.

The First Nations Health Worker Traineeship Program, which has 300 enrolments, is giving our people the tools to enter critical healthcare sectors. We've expanded the Indigenous Ranger Program, creating 1,000 new jobs, including 770 specifically for First Nations women.

We're strengthening the Indigenous Procurement Policy and expanding Indigenous Business Australia's leverage capacity to provide more opportunities for First Nations businesses and entrepreneurship and investing in business coaching and mentoring for First Nations women.

Over 34,000 First Nations people have taken the opportunity to further their education with our Free TAFE courses. New scholarships are opening doors for First Nations students to pursue careers in psychology and healthcare—fields that will improve the well-being of our communities for generations.

Meanwhile, the rhetoric coming from Dutton and the Liberal and National Party, is that we're a community of dysfunction, with wasted money poured into our communities but no change to show for it. This messaging is not only deeply offensive to so many of our families, it's incredibly harmful to our kids and their sense of self. It jeopardises the collaborative partnerships already so deeply ingrained within our communities, and with the Albanese Labor Government.

Already, Peter Dutton has talked about cuts to government spending and our mob know who is going to wear the brunt of that - It's us. They've said they want to scrap spending on ceremonies like welcome to country, but what else are they going to cut? How much will it cost our businesses?

And what's their plan for growing the wealth of First Nations people and supporting them into well-paid and secure jobs?

We've seen the devastating impact leaders of these political stripes have had on the economy and Indigenous communities. You only need to look at our neighbours across the Tasman.

Since the National Party were elected in New Zealand they've abolished the Māori Health Authority, reversed funding for Māori language and culture rivitalisation, ditched Indigenous cancer targets, and its economy is performing worse since any time before 1991 (excluding COVID).

We must continue to work together, to empower our families, to create opportunities, and to build a future where every First Nations Australian has the chance to thrive.

At the upcoming Federal election, there's a lot at stake for our Mob. We've been working hard over the last three years to counter the punch down politics of Peter Dutton and have been providing the funding our communities have missed out on over the last decade. At the next election we can choose between a party that wants to divide us or one that wants to strengthen us. Only an Albanese Labor government will deliver what our community needs and deserves.

Senator Jana Stewart (Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba), Labor Senator for Victoria.