Portfolio — 5 August 2026

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, announced a $200 million PBC Support Program to strengthen the capability, capacity, and sustainability of Prescribed Bodies Corporate across Australia [TA-260804-pmc-4386a7f29389]. The program establishes a $30 million Strategic Projects grant stream available until 30 June 2029, with individual grants ranging from $50,000 to $750,000 to fund economic development activities and business enterprises on Native Title land [TA-260804-pmc-4386a7f29389].

Senator McCarthy stated the initiative aims to assist Native Title holders to generate and maximise economic opportunities across the 46.7 per cent of Australia's land mass where Native Title has been recognised [TA-260804-pmc-4386a7f29389].

**Portfolio framing and direction**

The portfolio frames Prescribed Bodies Corporate as essential infrastructure for First Nations economic empowerment, shifting focus from housing delivery toward long-term asset management and commercial capability [TA-260804-pmc-4386a7f29389]. This framing positions PBCs not merely as administrative entities holding Native Title rights but as the institutional backbone for sustained economic activity on Country.

The Strategic Projects stream's design — grants between $50,000 and $750,000 for business enterprises and economic development — reflects an emphasis on commercial outcomes rather than transactional service delivery. The program's availability through to June 2029 signals a multi-year horizon designed to build durable institutional capacity.

**Continuity with prior activity**

The announcement builds on the portfolio's recent trajectory. The $200 million PBC Support Program was announced on 4 August, and today's media release continues the portfolio's approach to building the commercial and institutional capacity of Native Title representative bodies [TA-260804-pmc-4386a7f29389]. The scale of the commitment and the structural framing around PBC sustainability together indicate a portfolio direction focused on embedding long-term commercial capability within the Native Title system rather than episodic project funding.