Standing Against
Black Cladding

At Djurwa, we are committed to advancing genuine economic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, enterprises and communities. A key threat to this goal is the unethical practice known as black cladding.

“Black cladding goes against the principles of both state and federal Indigenous procurement programs and does the complete opposite of what the programs are trying to achieve. It takes opportunities away from genuine Indigenous businesses and does nothing to improve the lives of Indigenous individuals, companies, and communities.”

— Nathan Martin, Managing Director, Djurwa

What is Black Cladding?

Black cladding occurs when a non-Indigenous entity or individual takes unfair advantage of an Indigenous business or individual to access contracts or opportunities intended to support First Nations businesses. This practice undermines the intent of Indigenous procurement policies and diverts crucial opportunities away from legitimate Indigenous enterprises.

Why It Matters

Programs like the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) were established to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through economic participation. Black cladding erodes trust, diminishes genuine partnerships, and harms the progress these policies aim to deliver.