Tony Abbott gets down and dirty in Cape York

Tony Abbott hit the tools yesterday with dozens of indigenous workers revamping a Cape York community centre.

Ex Cairns to the Australian 27.08.2015 PM's Torres Strait Islands Visit - PICS by BRIAN CASSEY , story Michael McKenna and Steven Scott Prime Minister Tony Abbott mixes cement dujring work at the Injinoo Community Centre near the tip of Cape York.

Tony Abbott hit the tools yesterday with dozens of indigenous workers revamping a Cape York community centre as part of a work-for-the dole scheme.

The Prime Minister, along with ministers Scott Morrison, Sussan Ley and Nigel Scullion, joined the workers for a few hours laying bricks, pouring concrete and painting while spruiking this year’s overhaul of the program.

Under the Remote Jobs and Communities Program, workers aged between 18 and 49 have to complete 25 hours of work over five days or lose some of their payments. But the overhaul has ­expanded the definition of work to include caring for a relative — which also requires training — fishing for community benefit and substance abuse rehabilitation.

In the town of Injinoo, where Mr Abbott joined the workers, there are more people on welfare than in work, with the labour participation rate sitting at 46 per cent, 30 per cent below the nationwide rate.

Mr Abbot said the program, which will be fully implemented by January, was needed to help ­people back into work.

“People here, just as anywhere else, can do almost anything if they’ve got a mind to and if they are given the right encouragement,’’ he said.

After downing tools, Mr Abbott also bought into the dispute ­between some traditional owners in Aurukun, on the western side of Cape York, and the Queensland government over the proposed bauxite mine.

The Palaszczuk Labor government has endorsed the decision of the previous Newman Liberal ­National Party government to give preferred proponent status to Swiss Giant Glencore over a proposal­ of rival start-up company Australian Bauxite Developments.

ABD had offered equity in the mine to local Aborigines but the former government questioned its capacity to develop the project, sparking a looming High Court challenge by the local native title organisation.

Mr Abbott said he had spoken to Cape York leaders Noel ­Pearson and Richie Ahmat, as well as Glencore.

“... whatever happens there, the important thing is that local ­people are able to get the benefit of that development and the most important benefit, of course, are secure, well-paid jobs,’’ the Prime Minister said.