The Albanese Labor Government has welcomed the return of 10 First Nations ancestors from three Japanese collecting institutions. A joint ceremony was held in Tokyo to acknowledge the significance of returning these ancestors back to their Traditional Custodians and country of origin. This is the first ever return of ancestors from Japan.

Seven ancestors were returned from the University of Tokyo, which included one Kaurna Old Person who was returned to the South Australian Kaurna Nation Traditional Custodians.

The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report has seen Australia rise 11 places in the global rankings to 13th out of 148 countries for gender equality, the highest ever ranking since the Index began in 2006.

This significant jump from last year’s ranking of 24th marks the third consecutive increase for Australia since the Albanese Labor Government was elected in 2022.

Australia’s ranking had fallen to an all-time low of 50th place under the former Liberal National Government.

The Albanese Government has today announced $30 million to support a new Traditional Owner-led program to protect and manage the Great Barrier Reef.

The $30 million Traditional Owner Water Quality Program will harness the knowledge and skills of First Nations people to improve the quality of water flowing to the Reef.

The Program will deliver projects that are grounded in Traditional Owner values and reflect the connections between Country, People and Culture.

PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: I spoke to the Assistant Employment Minister, Patrick Gorman, a short time ago. Patrick Gorman, welcome to the programme, and congratulations on your new role.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Thank you very much, Patricia, it's great to be with you.

KARVELAS: Now the final wage result has fallen between the sort of competing demands from the trade union movement and business groups. Do you think that workers deserve more?

GARY ADSHEAD, HOST: And it is WA Day. I find the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, the Member for Perth, in the studio with me. Happy WA Day.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Happy WA Day to you, Gary, and to all of your listeners.

ADSHEAD: Is it a big day for you? Like, is there a lot of events around that we probably don't even know about?

CHENG LEI, HOST: Joining me live is Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. Hi there, Patrick, great to have you on the show. What do you think of these tariff hikes and what we can do, aside from 'tut-tutting' the move?

The Albanese Labor Government, in partnership with the Northern Territory Government, has delivered a $3.6 million upgrade of housing and infrastructure in Mungkarta, an Aboriginal homeland 80 kilometres south of Tennant Creek. 

This investment is part of the Homelands Housing and Infrastructure Program (HHIP), a joint initiative to improve living conditions in remote homelands across the Northern Territory. 

The final housing upgrades for Mungkarta were completed this month, ensuring residents have access to safe and appropriate housing. 

SUBJECTS: Death in custody in Alice Springs; income management; Reconciliation Week

SUBJECTS: Death in custody in Alice Springs; truth-telling, Joint Council on Closing the Gap, North West Shelf

HOST, PATRICIA KARVELAS: Returning to one of our top stories and one we've been following all week, the grandfather of the 24-year-old Yuendumu man who died in police custody in Alice Springs this week has paid tribute to his grandson and said the community needed answers and justice. I spoke to the Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy a short time ago. Minister, welcome to the program.

The Albanese Labor Government is proud to invest $250,000 to support the 2025 Barunga Festival and its celebration of First Nations art, music, dance, sport and culture.

The festival is an important annual event held in the remote Northern Territory community of Barunga, on the lands of the Bagala clan of the Jawoyn people.

Barunga Festival holds a key place in Australian history as the home of the Barunga Statement, presented to then Prime Minister Bob Hawke at the festival in 1988.