Minister for Indigenous Australians
I acknowledge that we come together on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people on this incredibly significant day.
And I acknowledge too the visitors who've come to the gallery, in particular the Coalition of Peaks, who are either here in person or watching from around the country.
Today, we table the Closing the Gap Annual Report and Implementation Plan.
And I want to be crystal clear.
The Albanese Labor Government is ambitious for Indigenous Australians.
Closing the Gap - so that all Australians have the same opportunities in life - will take a collective effort.
As the Prime Minister has just outlined - the National Agreement on Closing the Gap is a landmark partnership.
It brings together all levels of Australian governments and the Coalition of Peaks.
From the first day I had the privilege of being the Minister for Indigenous Australians my priority has been collaboration and partnership.
I have worked closely with my Cabinet colleagues.
I have reached across the aisle to engage the opposition and the cross bench.
And I have prioritised deepening our partnership with Indigenous Australians and their organisations - with the Coalition of Peaks.
And I acknowledge Pat Turner, the Lead Convenor and my co-Chair of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap, who is here today.
As Pat Turner will tell you, at the core of making a difference are the four Priority Reforms - informed by First Nations people and communities.
We know that:
- when policies and programs are created and delivered in partnership.
- when the community‑controlled sector is strengthened.
- when mainstream institutions are transformed.
- when data and information is shared with community
We will see real, positive changes in the lives of First Nations Australians.
Our Annual Report and Implementation Plan shows the progress made across the Government
And details our plan in the priority areas of economic empowerment, cost of living, mental health and wellbeing and giving our children the best start in life; in health, education; and housing.
The foundation of economic security is Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.
We are delivering on our commitment to get rid of the failed CDP.
We launched the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program and received more than 200 employer applications in the first round.
Our jobs program is about the dignity of work
It's about fair pay and decent conditions, including superannuation, sick leave and annual leave.
It's a game changer.
During my recent visits to Alice Springs and Kununurra, I met some amazing young men and women.
Ephrem and Tremayne working in maintenance at Lily Lagoon Resort.
Nathalia at Waringarri Radio.
And John, Maxie, Andre, Jared and Darren working in town camps near Alice Springs.
They told me about how proud they are to get up and go to work.
And how they want to inspire others.
They are proud - of themselves and each other.
Some of them are in their first ever job.
And that's life changing.
Our work across government is making a difference.
Last year we built more than 200 new homes in remote communities in the Northern Territory.
And we are on track to build an additional 270 this year as part of our 10-year goal to halve overcrowding.
We have delivered significant increases in funding for First Nations legal services.
And we've invested in 27 community-led justice reinvestment initiatives across the country.
We have expanded the highly successful Indigenous Rangers Program to create 1,000 new jobs, including 770 positions for First Nations women.
At our launch in Healesville, Victoria last year - I met Jessica from the Narrap Ranger group.
She told me that:
"To have First Nations women take leadership of healing Country is really important to us and really important to many women across Australia."
"Healthy country means healthy people and it's a part of our identity, it's in our blood, it's who we are and to keep carrying that on, it means everything to us."
We are making great progress on our commitment of 500 First Nations health workers - with more than 300 people enrolled.
We have introduced legislation to expand the role and remit of Indigenous Business Australia to turbocharge First Nations economic empowerment.
Our focus going forward is to build on these achievements and continue delivering action that will improve people's lives.
Leaving nobody behind.
Last Friday, the Prime Minister travelled to Alice Springs to join the member for Lingiari - my friend and colleague Marion Scrymgour.
They announced a new 6-year agreement to fund essential services in remote communities across the Northern Territory - like policing, women's safety, education and interpreter services.
The Remote Aboriginal Investment agreement is with the NT Government and Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT.
This is our way of working - with a community-led approach.
And Marion Scrymgour is absolutely right about investing in the bush and I thank her for her fierce advocacy that's secured landmark funding for the people of Lingiari.
Other important measures we are announcing today include:
- Strengthening the Indigenous Procurement Policy - to crackdown on black cladding - by changing the eligibility criteria so that Indigenous businesses must be 51 per cent or more First Nations owned and controlled.
- Support for First Nations women in business.
- And help for more people to access home loans through Indigenous Business Australia.
It's an important measure I'm very proud of, along with our investment in 12 remote community laundries.
We will target remote communities with high rates of skin diseases and with these laundries we will help stop the spread of preventable infectious diseases.
One of my priorities - as Assistant Minister and now Minister - has been improving food security in remote communities.
It is unacceptable that people out bush are paying more than double the price as people in urban centres.
Not being able to access fresh, healthy food at affordable prices has such an enormous impact on people's health.
We have been working with the states and territories and First Nations experts on a national strategy.
We know people are doing it tough.
So, to ease the cost of living, we have announced subsidies to reduce the cost of 30 essential items.
To boost education about healthy choices, we are creating more than 100 nutrition worker jobs in remote communities.
Today, we are also announcing measures to target the deeply concerning suicide rates in First Nations communities.
This includes scholarships for up to 150 First Nations psychologists.
We have delivered on our promise to set up the Office of the First Nations Children's Commissioner.
Which will play such an important role in bringing down the unacceptable rates of First Nations children in out of home care and youth detention.
The levels of violence against First Nations women and children are a national shame.
The Missing and Murdered inquiry and the recent NT coronial inquest into the deaths of 4 Indigenous women painted a devastating picture.
Not numbers and statistics - they are daughters, sisters, mothers, aunties, grandmothers.
They are matriarchs of our communities.
The Albanese Government is leading a range of important initiatives and making record investments into services that support First Nations women and children experiencing violence.
An important part of our work is in changing men's behaviour.
When I met with frontline service in Alice Springs recently, they made it clear that's a critical step to reducing violence against women and girls.
I am so proud of what we have achieved in a short time - and I pay tribute to the tireless work of my friend, the former Minister, Linda Burney, for her contributions over many, many years.
The focus for 2025 is on continuing to improve health outcomes, reduce housing overcrowding, improve food security, keep First Nations women and children safe and increase economic empowerment.
My pride in what we have achieved is only exceeded by my excitement and enthusiasm for the opportunity to do much more.
We have come a long way, and we certainly have a lot further to go.
It is an opportunity I relish, and one that I invite all people of goodwill to join me in Closing the Gap, so that all Australians have the same opportunities in life.
Thank you.
