I begin by acknowledging the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people and I pay my deepest respects to Elders past and present.
I stand today to affirm the Prime Minister’s statement in the House of Representatives on 12 February.
Where he made it clear that we must continue the work of Closing the Gap with honesty, courage and partnership.
Everywhere I go, I see the strength of First Nations people. It’s in the way communities come together to celebrate culture, protect Country and create opportunities for the next generation.
And I see communities standing strong in moments that challenge us, like after the shocking alleged terror attack in Borloo, Perth.
Our people show up for each other and stand together with resilience, love and unity.
As the Prime Minister said: the danger of that alleged attack was real and so was the racism and hatred behind it, motivated by a white supremacy ideology.
Violent racism and hatred are faced far too often by First Nations Australians.
We must continue to raise our voices against all forms of racism and hate.
As a government, our task is to ensure no one is held back and no one is left behind.
That means confronting the challenges, while also recognising the strength, innovation and leadership in communities.
This year’s Commonwealth Closing the Gap Annual Report and Implementation Plan reflects progress, it reflects the lived experiences and aspirations of our families, Elders and communities.
It reflects our shared commitment to lasting change.
We are determined to keep building on what is working.
I want to acknowledge the Special Envoy for Remote Communities Marion Scrymgour, who walks alongside me as we deliver for First Nations people.
I also want to acknowledge my First Nations Caucus colleagues, for their support and commitment to improving the lives of First Nations people.
One year ago, I committed to focusing on what communities tell me matters most: improving health outcomes, reducing overcrowding, improving food security, keeping First Nations women and children safe, and, crucially, supporting economic empowerment and employment.
Employment and economic empowerment are central to self-determination.
That’s why my focus has been steadfast - on jobs, jobs, jobs.
Having a job is a critical foundation - creating pathways that support dignity, security and generational change.
That’s why we are doubling our successful Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program (RJED) from 3,000 to 6,000 new jobs.
This is about the dignity of work with proper pay and conditions.
For people like Marcus, who I met at Wanilla Forest in Port Lincoln two weeks ago, who said, “it means a lot for the community for us to be out here and doing the things that we do.”
And Alex, who I also met in Port Lincoln, who told me, “his family is stoked to see him working.”
This is the real-life impact of our work - that strengthens individuals and families, lifts local economies and creates long-term pathways.
I am so proud of our Indigenous Rangers Program, which we continue to expand.
We are on track to meet our commitment to double the number of Rangers from 1,900 to 3,800 by 2030.
These are crucial roles that protect and care for land and sea Country.
Like the work being done on the Great Barrier Reef by Gavin Singleton and the Yirrganydji Land and Sea Rangers who operate between Cairns and Port Douglas.
They’re carrying out restoration work on the Reef and looking at different ways to save coral.
We also have our Junior Rangers program which we've expanded to more than 60 new locations across the country.
So that students like Chayse-John Shepard from the south coast of New South Wales can learn about caring for country and connect with and stand tall in their culture.
It's these stories that I get the privilege of hearing firsthand.
As the Prime Minister said, our approach to Closing the Gap is driven by economic empowerment.
And later this year, the new First Nations Economic Partnership will deliver an economic policy to drive economic empowerment across the country.
We know that Australians are doing it tough, especially in remote communities, where essential goods cost much more than in cities.
113 stores have already signed up to our Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy scheme on 30 essential items.
And now it will be available to an estimated 225 remote stores around Australia, providing more cost-of-living relief to families.
A few weeks ago, I visited the Outback Stores’ Adelaide warehouse when the 4,000th pallet of goods was dispatched to remote communities in the APY Lands and Northern Territory.
The demand from communities has been enormous and now we can meet more of it.
We are also expanding the Store Efficiency and Resilience Package to 75 additional remote stores, to support upgrades that will help keep stock fresh during the wet season and extreme weather events.
We’ve seen how important it is during the floods in Central Australia, communities have been better prepared to cope with being cut off thanks to our investments.
In places like Lajamanu, that’s been able to install more dry and cold storage so that it can hold an additional 13 weeks of stock, to get through the wet season.
Across the country, we have expanded access to culturally safe healthcare, increased the number of First Nations specialists in training and upgraded essential healthcare infrastructure so services are fit-for purpose and comparable to urban areas.
We will continue our investment in 10 Birthing on Country units across Australia, led by First Nations women to deliver culturally safe care that keeps our mothers and babies strong.
Programs like Birthing in Our Communities in Brisbane, and Waminda’s Birthing on Country in Nowra, are reducing pre-term births and improving antenatal visits and breastfeeding rates.
We know that our health is more than physical, it includes strong minds and spirits. And when support is needed, it must be immediate and culturally safe.
That’s why we are investing $13.9 million in 13YARN, to ensure more First Nations people can access community-led help when they need it.
The Albanese Government understands the importance of having a roof over your head and access to safe and affordable housing.
We know that home ownership remains a challenge for many people.
The Indigenous Business Australia Home Ownership Program saw 583 concessional home loans approved, supporting more First Nations families, particularly single income households, to achieve home ownership and financial independence.
In many parts of Australia, it is not just about financing a home.
Too few homes are available, which can often mean severe overcrowding.
That’s why between 1 July 2024 to 30 November 2025, we built 300 houses in 34 remote Northern Territory communities and two Alice Springs Town Camps.
This was part of our historic agreement with the NT Government, Land Councils and Aboriginal Housing NT.
Over the next 12 months, we will continue to support First Nations people to secure appropriate housing.
Round 3 of the Housing Australia Future Fund will include dedicated funding to support more than 21,000 new social and affordable homes with a First Nations tenancy target of 10% and delivery through the First Nations community-controlled sector.
On 10 February, I was so proud to stand beside the Minister for Social Services to launch Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices.
Delivering on our commitment for a standalone plan to end violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.
To support the plan, the Albanese Government has made an immediate investment of $218.3 million to implement Our Ways, with First Nations organisations at the centre.
Long-lasting change requires partnership, across portfolios, between Governments, and with First Nations People.
We are holding ourselves and our partners accountable.
I have established a Commonwealth Ministerial Working Group on Closing the Gap to support a strategic, whole-of-government approach to achieving the Closing the Gap targets and Priority Reforms.
I will continue working with state and territory governments, local government and the Coalition of Peaks at the Joint Council on Closing the Gap, as will all my colleagues in their Ministerial forums.
Particularly on the targets that will require all of us to work together to reduce the incarceration rates and increase the numbers of our children to stay with their families.
I know there is still so much work to do. But I am very proud of what we have achieved in 2025.
Across the country, there are programs where we are getting it right, where communities are leading, culture is guiding and government is delivering as a trusted partner.
To make meaningful progress towards Closing the Gap targets and improve outcomes, we must continue to build on these achievements, invest in what we know works and keep listening to those whose lives are most directly affected.
Yo, bauji barra.