Labor has promised to abolish a controversial work-for-the-dole scheme meant to help indigenous people in remote Australia if it wins the next federal election.
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A Shorten government would scrap the Community Development Program and replace it, as part of the ALP's new Reconciliation Action Plan unveiled at its national conference in Adelaide on Monday.
Labor's assistant indigenous affairs spokesman Pat Dodson said the new scheme would create jobs, meet community needs, deliver meaningful training and economic development.
"The Community Development Program put in place by the current government in remote communities is discriminatory, punitive and ineffective," Senator Dodson told delegates.
"The current government is not committed to ensuring that First Nations Australians get fair treatment, equal wages, and job security."
More than 80 per cent of participants in the CDP are indigenous, with the scheme dogged by concerns its participants are hit with repeated financial penalties and forced to work much longer hours than city-based job seekers.
Senator Dodson said Labor was committed to establishing a voice to parliament designed by indigenous people and enshrined in the constitution.
He said the reconciliation plan set out a significant challenge for the party to become the party of choice for indigenous people.
Labor leader Bill Shorten said he wanted to see more indigenous people in parliament and enrol to vote to make their issues a national priority.
"We want to deliver and make Labor a party of choice for the first Australians, but we need to earn that right," Mr Shorten said.
Linda Burney, who Mr Shorten confirmed would be a cabinet minister if Labor wins government, said the reconciliation plan would develop practical ideas for change.
"These goals have eluded us as a nation for more than two centuries. It is time for that to change - and Labor wants to lead this change," she said.
ACTU president Michele O'Neil said the CDP had discriminated against people based on their skin colour and where they chose to live.
"This scheme is an appalling example of state-sanctioned racial discrimination and worker exploitation and Australia will be a better place without it," Ms O'Neil said.
Australian Associated Press
