Minister for Indigenous Australians
In the six months since I became the federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, I have heard some inspiring stories of success.
I have met with men and women in Kununurra in WA's Kimberley region and in town camps outside Alice Springs who have told me about how proud they are to be working.
They are proud - of themselves and each other.
And they want to inspire others, including their children.
Some of them are in their first ever job.
That's life changing.
Through our new remote jobs program they are embracing the dignity of work, with decent pay and conditions, and their communities are also seeing the economic benefits.
I've seen the impact of First Nations led maternity programs, including the South‑East Queensland Birthing in Our Community and Djäkamirr Birthing on Country Project in Galiwin'ku in North East Arnhem Land.
I have met students in Western Sydney, inspired to engage with their culture and with school, through our Junior Rangers program.
I have heard the stories of young people turning their lives around and getting back to school or into work with support by frontline services like Nyoongar Outreach in WA.
I have met with women Indigenous rangers in Healesville, Victoria who told me about their work in healing Country, and how healthy Country means healthy people.
I have seen the impact when First Nations people receive lifesaving care on Country, close to family, thanks to a new renal dialysis unit in the remote outback town of Coober Pedy.
All of these changes, and more, were made possible because of the persistence of First Nations people in advocating for a better way.
And our Government's willingness to work with First Nations people to deliver better outcomes.
The Prime Minister recently tabled the Commonwealth's Closing the Gap 2024 Annual Report and 2025 Implementation Plan.
It gives a comprehensive overview of what our Government has delivered so far, and the work ahead.
Crucially, we are committed to doing this work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap was signed in 2020 under the former Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
It is a whole of government, cross-jurisdiction commitment that requires national leadership and partnership between all levels of governments and the Coalition of Peaks.
Closing the Gap must be above politics.
We're seeing this principle in action in our six-year partnership with the Northern Territory Government and Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory to deliver essential services for remote communities.
And in the landmark 10-year investment to significantly reduce overcrowding in remote Northern Territory communities and homelands.
200 houses have been built in the last 12 months, with a further 64 due for completion by mid-year.
In 2025 we're continuing our work to improve outcomes for First Nations people.
We're reducing the costs of 30 essential products in more than 76 remote stores to improve food security in remote communities.
We're also establishing a nutrition workforce, building on the work of the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation.
We're rolling out new laundries or upgrading facilities in 12 remote communities, because we know the connection between scabies and chronic diseases like Rheumatic Heart Disease.
As well as improving health outcomes, we're focused on economic empowerment for First Nations people.
We're strengthening the Indigenous Procurement Policy to boost opportunities for First Nations businesses to grow and create jobs.
And we're increasing opportunities for First Nations Australians to buy their own home and build intergenerational wealth through a boost to Indigenous Business Australia's Home Loan Capital Fund.
As I said in my Closing the Gap speech to parliament, our Government is ambitious for First Nations people.
We know there is much more to do to improve the lives of our most marginalised.
But change is happening.
There is no doubting Labor's commitment to improving the lives of First Nations people.
And there is no doubting Labor's commitment to Closing the Gap.
