Ord Stage 2 and the Socioeconomic Status of Indigenous People in the East Kimberley Region

The announcement by the Australian and Western Australian governments of funding for Stage 2 of the Ord irrigation scheme brings into focus the role of the Yawoorroong Miriuwung Gajerrong Yirrgeb Noong Dawang Aboriginal Corporation in developing strategic economic development priorities associated with financial and other benefits flowing from the Ord Final Agreement. It also provides impetus to the Ord Enhancement Scheme which is charged with addressing the adverse social and economic impacts of Ord Stage 1 on Aboriginal people. To assist these processes, this paper provides an assessment of the contemporary social and economic circumstances of Indigenous people in the region implicated by the Ord scheme expansion. By establishing aspects of demography, labour force status, income, education, housing, health and criminal justice, the aim is to provide an essential quantum to discussions of need, aspirations, and regional development capacities for Indigenous, corporate, and government stakeholders. It also provides a benchmark against which subsequent outcomes may be measured