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

The Working Group also met with the Foreign Minister, representing the Prime Minister.

The Working Group received an update on recent developments, including on the progress of the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022. 

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: It has been a big week for Perth and a big week for Australia domestically and on the world stage. We saw the Prime Minister stop into Perth on his way to an incredibly important set of meetings in India, where we've already seen a very big announcement about recognising the need for students who study in Australia and India to be able to recognise their qualifications. That's great news for students of both countries.

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Well, I spoke to the Minister for Women and Finance Katy Gallagher about how both issues fit into Budget sustainability.

I Thank David Pearson, CEO Australian Alliance to end Homelessness, for the opportunity to speak today.

We also have Rotarians Ken Mullin, Tara Sherwood and David Motta joining us.

It is fitting that today on International Women’s Day we are here in the Dame Dorothy Tangney Alcove.

Earlier today we unveiled statues of Dorothy Tangney along with Dame Enid Lyons.

Trailblazing members of our federal Parliament.

In Dorothy Tangney first speech in Parliament, she spoke of the importance of housing.

SARAH ABO, HOST: It is International Women's Day: a day to recognise and celebrate some of the most influential leaders across our country. And our next guests are no exception.

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: We are thrilled to welcome 2023 Australian of the Year recipient Taryn Brumfitt, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, the Director of Space Technology at the Australian Space Agency, and the Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher. Nice to see you ladies. First of all, to you Taryn, what is the significance of International Women's Day for you?

MICHAEL ROWLAND, HOST: To mark International Women's Day, the Federal Government is releasing a new report card to show exactly where progress on gender equality is failing, in some cases, failing very badly indeed. I'm joined from Canberra now by the Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher. Senator Gallagher, good morning to you.

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR WOMEN: Good morning, Michael. Thanks for having me on.

ROWLAND: And Happy International Women's Day to you as well.

The Productivity Commission’s latest data shows a number of key Closing the Gap targets are ‘not on track’.

The healthy birthweights for babies target has gone from being ‘on track’ to ‘not on track’ in the latest update of data.

Of the new data, 9 targets are ‘not on track’ and just 2 targets are ‘on track’. Combined with the existing data, there are 11 targets are now ‘not on track’ and 4 ‘on track’.

The gap is not closing fast enough and on some measures it is going backwards.

To mark International Women’s Day, the Albanese Government has released Australia’s first Status of Women Report Card to shine a light on where progress on gender equality has stalled and more focus is needed.

The Report Card shows the challenges women and girls in Australia face through youth and young adulthood, in careers and working life, through parenthood and families, and in later life. This includes:

SHARRI MARKSON, HOST: Let's bring in Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, and Nationals Leader in the Senate, Bridget McKenzie, to discuss. Welcome to both of you. You're in Canberra for the Parliamentary Sitting week. Look, so this Treasury modelling showing that 10 per cent of Australians will have a super balance of $3 million in 30 years.

Today we are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Justin Mohamed as Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for First Nations People.

Mr Mohamed will lead the Office of First Nations Engagement in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Together they will work in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to progress Indigenous rights globally, and help grow First Nations trade and investment.