Indigenous Business Leaders Urge Stronger Definitions to Combat ‘Black Cladding’

The call for clearer standards to define and prevent “black cladding” in Indigenous businesses has emerged as a pressing issue within Australia’s economic landscape. Black cladding refers to the misuse of Indigenous identity by non-Indigenous companies to gain unfair access to opportunities, particularly government contracts. Representatives who provided evidence before the Senate Committee inquiry into economic self-determination and opportunities for Indigenous Australians called for clearer definitions and standards to combat this practice. They also highlighted challenges in international markets, such as limited product diversity and complex regulations. Access to capital poses another significant barrier, with concerns about equity dilution affecting Indigenous status....