In December 2023, the government announced that it will be supporting the establishment of a pilot First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group (Advisory Group). The Advisory Group will make sure First Nations views are part of the right conversations, at the right times, to help deliver trade and investment benefits for First Nations people and communities.
Throughout early 2024 we consulted on the best way we could support a First Nations-led approach to appointing the Advisory Group members.
There was strong support for the Advisory Group to be established in such a way to both 'join up' conversations across existing national bodies that are heavily engaged in the trade and investment agenda, while also ensuring a balance of gender, sectoral expertise and geographic representation.
Expressions of Interest to join the Advisory Group were open from 22 May to 9 June 2024.
Applications are currently under consideration.
Updates on the Advisory Group, including outcomes from the Expression of Interest process, will be published here in due course.
For further information, the First Nations Trade Unit can be contacted at firstnationstrade@dfat.gov.au.