Good afternoon and thank you everyone for coming out on a beautiful Canberra Sunday afternoon.

I’d like to begin by paying respect to the ancient Ngunnawal people, upon whose land we gather this afternoon and I thank them for their custodianship and care for this beautiful country. And I extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. And in that spirit of reconciliation and respect I look forward to working together to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart, including a constitutionally enshrined Voice to our National Parliament.  

GREG JENNETT, HOST: All right, time now for our political panel. And joining us this Monday, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman is back. And Liberal senator and fellow West Australian Linda Reynolds is back too. Welcome to both of you. Patrick Gorman, why don't we start with the major news of the day that happened in this building? Lidia Thorpe defecting from the Greens. What does it mean for the Government's agenda? It's been rather smooth sailing for you in the Senate up to this point.

Today the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Attorney General, the Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians met with the Referendum Engagement Group for the third time.

In opening the meeting, the Minister noted that momentum is building and that significant progress has been made towards a referendum on a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament, to be held later this year.

Today the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Attorney‑General, the Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians met with the Referendum Working Group at Parliament House in Canberra.

The Minister acknowledged the Working Group has a vital role to play in providing advice to Government.

The Albanese Government will today progress its commitment to Australia’s children by launching the first Action Plans under Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children (2021-2031). 

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth and Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney will launch the Action Plans, outlining the actions and activities needed to improve outcomes for children and young people in Australia.

A review into the myGov digital platform has found it is essential to the lives of Australians and is critical national infrastructure like our roads, hospitals and energy grid.

Led by eminent Australian businessman David Thodey AO and a panel of digital, human rights and health experts, the audit found myGov is critical digital infrastructure, with the capacity to deliver world leading government services to Australians.

The Daily Telegraph and The Courier Mail
Tuesday, 31 January 2023

“I'll never find another you” sang Judith Durham the same year The Seekers were named Australian of the Year in 1968.

We will never find another Judith Durham, yet each year our nation seeks another you. Another inspirational Australian to name as Australian of the Year.

A new name to add to the list alongside Taryn Brumfitt, Evonne Goolagong, Fred Hollows, Arthur Boyd and Rosie Batty.

The Australian Government is expanding the Connected Beginnings program to nine new communities, which will help 3,500 First Nations children be better prepared for school.

Minister for Early Childhood Education, the Hon Dr Anne Aly, announced the locations of the new Connected Beginnings projects while in Geraldton, Western Australia, today. They are:

TOM CONNELL, HOST: We have had a summer dominated by debate over the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and a soft launch today for the No Campaign. So where are we at in terms of what the two major parties are going to do on this? Joining me for their first panel of 2023, Assistant Minister to the PM, Patrick Gorman, former Liberal MP Jason Falinski. Gentlemen, thanks both for your time and welcome back for 2023. Jason, we love that you're unbound by a Liberal Party sort of doctrine, not that you ever really were. What's your view on this?

PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: Last week's inflation rate of 7.8% might have made you uneasy, with the Reserve Bank likely to respond with another interest rate hike this week. Now, with that there are warnings more action from the central bank could tip Australia into a recession as other countries teeter on the edge of an economic downturn. It's a tricky position for the new Government hoping to fix Medicare and aged care and invest in defence. Katy Gallagher is the Finance Minister and the Women's Minister and she's our guest this morning.