The Empowered Communities: Empowered Peoples Design Report proposes a new model of Indigenous empowerment and development in Australia. The authors of this Report have focused on economic development to achieve Indigenous empowerment, with an emphasis on Indigenous individuals and families increasing their productivity (through taking responsibility). The Report sets out short term and long term goals for Indigenous development across Australia. Nonetheless, there are some inconsistencies within the conceptual and methodological frameworks used, raising questions of the overall logic of the Empowered Communities model, as well as its prospects for achieving Indigenous-led emancipatory development in Australia. This paper will raise questions relating to five areas in the Report and conclude that given the grand vision set out by the authors, it is essential that these inconsistencies are addressed.