This week Wayne Bergmann announced he is stepping down from his role as a board member of the Kimberley Land Council to focus on creating economic empowerment for Traditional Owners.

In Western Australia, the state which provides the foundation for our nation's wealth, two instruments empower resource companies' access to the traditional lands and waters of Aboriginal communities. They are Native Title agreements and State Agreements. These mechanisms are important to propelling our economy forward, but they often leave the Indigenous community behind.

Native Title agreements are frequently confidential and lack clearly defined outcomes when it comes to empowering Aboriginal groups beyond simply giving groups money for access to land. As important as this financial mechanism is, there is no real reward for effort.

When it comes to Western Australia's State Agreements, which lawfully hand over the state's resources to a company to mine, they simply often allow for 'best effort' rather than enshrined targets of local Indigenous employment, procurement and commercial engagement. Indeed in every State Agreement I've reviewed, there is no mention of requirements to directly engage with Aboriginal people or Aboriginal-owned companies even if the resource comes from their very land. This is unacceptable in 2023.

It is clear that these State Agreements, some dating back to the 1960s, are no longer fit for purpose in a time when more and more Aboriginal people are starting businesses and looking to carve out their paths.

I believe that resource companies are, without a doubt, some of the most responsible and prolific supporters of Aboriginal businesses. The National Indigenous Times is full of examples of successful partnerships between large multinational companies and Aboriginal businesses. Resource companies have played a key role in supporting these ventures. However, as Mr Bergmann has pointed out, more needs to be done.

If we want to genuinely get more Aboriginal people off welfare, off government support and into meaningful economic independence and engagement, we need to change the landscape, and give concrete minimums for the engagement of Indigenous companies. This can only come about by changing Native Title or State Agreements.

It is time for resource companies to be held accountable for delivering on Indigenous business and employment outcomes, rather than simply promoting their "best endeavours".

We need to ensure that Indigenous businesses get the contracts and jobs they deserve and that they are given the support they need to build capacity and participate more fully in the economy.

In the coming months, we'll continue to support Mr Bergmann's call for greater accountability from resource companies, and I hope that his work will help to drive the change that is so urgently needed to help lift our communities for good, forever.

Zak Kirkup is of Yamatji heritage and is the former leader of the Liberal Party in Western Australia