KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Let's bring in the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister. That's Patrick Gorman. Patrick, thanks for your time. What we heard in Matt Cunningham's report there and what we've seen in The Australian today and over recent days, the situation in Alice Springs is a crisis. There's no other way to describe it. And now Marion Scrymgour, your fellow Labor MP, the member for Lingiari, says that while she supports the Voice, we can't be having those discussions while this effectively, this humanitarian crisis unfolds in Alice Springs.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Before I dive into talking about Australia Day and the very exciting events we have planned for Australia Day 2023. If I can just pay tribute to one of Australia's greatest friends in Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, someone who has been a strong friend of Australia and someone who shares the values of Australia. She's shown the world over that you can lead with both empathy and strength.

I pay my respects to the ancient Bunurong people, upon whose land we meet tonight. 

I would also like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people as the Traditional Owners of the Harvester site for which we are commemorating tonight. 

I honour their custodianship and care for the country.

I extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from all points of the southern sky. 

In cities, suburbs and towns around the nation, Australians will come together on Australia Day to reflect, respect, celebrate the strength and spirit of their local communities.

And this year, the Albanese Government has worked to make events on Australia Day more inclusive and accessible to all Australians.

INTRODUCTION

Thank you, and good morning.

I begin by acknowledging and paying my respect to the Wadjuk people of the Noongar nation.

The Traditional Owners of these lands and waters, and to their elders, past and present. Thank you Barry for that warm welcome.

I also acknowledge His Excellency the Honourable Christopher John Dawson APM, Governor of Western Australia and Mrs Darrilyn Dawson.

Thank you for bringing us together today.

The Australian Government is providing $1.6 million to support local communities and organisations with celebrating NAIDOC Week from 2 to 9 July.

The NAIDOC Local Grants enables communities to hold activities that recognise the histories, cultures, achievements and ongoing contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The flight from Brisbane to Perth is 330 minutes long. Like many travelling parents, my wife Jess and I counted every single one when travelling with two-year-old Ruby and five-year-old Leo.

But being able to spend time with family in Brisbane this summer was something we were so delighted to do once again. Brisbane is Jess' hometown and for me as a Western Australian, it has always felt like a second home.

The Albanese Government will today bring together First Nations experts and stakeholders from across the telecommunications, media and broadcasting sectors as part of a First Nations Digital Inclusion Roundtable.

The Roundtable will provide an opportunity to discuss issues relating to First Nations digital inclusion, with a focus on identifying initiatives already underway to support improved digital access, affordability and ability for First Nations people and communities, and to explore possible priorities for future action.

As part of its commitment to Closing the Gap, the Albanese Labor Government is delivering more than $4 million towards a pilot program which will establish partnerships between Indigenous language centres and local service delivery partners.

Funded through the Indigenous Languages and Arts Program, the 11 place-based partnerships will enable these First Nations-led organisations, in the health and early childhood education sector, to increase the use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

Travel is not just about the adventure, it is about the report back when you get home.

What was once slide carousels and picking up Kodak moments has been replaced by Instagram curation and Facebook reviews.

But it is still word of mouth that makes the real difference. When you can’t stop talking about your trip. Your discovery of a new part of the world.

Instead of farewelling a destination vowing never to return, we want visitors so enthused they get home and organise for their friends and family to join them on a return trip.