The Australian Government proudly endorses Ms Natasha Stott Despoja AO for re-election to the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Ms Stott Despoja was first elected to CEDAW in 2021 and is the first Australian to serve on the Committee in almost 30 years. 

CEDAW—a body of 23 independent experts —monitors the progress of UN member states' efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women.

Graduates of the Australian Public Service Graduate Development Program, it is my great pleasure to share this memorable occasion with you. Congratulations to each and every one of you on successfully completing the APS GDP.

Today marks the end of one journey, and also the start of a new one. As you complete the Program, you consider how to take the skills and knowledge you have learned, and to apply this into the future.

Ask yourselves: how will your newly-acquired capability contribute to policy and programs that will improve the lives of all Australians?

New programs over the summer holiday period will help keep young people healthy and engaged and promote community safety.

This includes a new, targeted, culturally-led diversion program for up to 50 at-risk Aboriginal young people in Alice Springs over the coming months.

These initiatives are part of the continued rollout of the landmark $250 million plan for A Better, Safer Future for Central Australia.

The Minister for the Public Service, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, has today welcomed Andrew Nipe as Chief Consulting Officer and Joanne Rossiter as Deputy Chief Consulting Officer for the Australian Government’s in-house consultancy function.

Delivering on the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to cutdown on outsourcing to external consultancies, Australian Government Consulting has hit the ground running and is close to completion on two pilot projects:

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE:  This has been a large week as we start to wrap up the parliamentary year. What we've seen is a massive announcement from my Australian colleague, Senator Patrick Dodson, to announce that he will not be rejoining us in 2024. I, like many, want to pay tribute to Patrick's contribution, not just in the Senate, but his contribution to Australia and his appointment to the Senate, which was something I was very pleased to be a part of back in 2016.

Today, the 26th State of the Service Report was tabled in Parliament.

Read a copy of the State of the Service Report 2023.

The results show that the Albanese Government’s reforms are already having a tangible impact on our Australian Public Service (APS), after a decade of stagnation.

This transformation is changing the face of capability, fairness, inclusion and transparency in our public sector.

Residents of a remote community near the Queensland border are planning to celebrate Christmas in brand new homes, thanks to a building boom across the Barkly region.

Twenty-one families have recently moved into homes at Alpurrurulam, and three more five-bedroom homes will be ready in the next couple of weeks.

The modular homes, built by Territory company Demountable Sales and Hire have been installed by Wilga Indigenous Corporation, which has provided employment opportunities to Alpurrurulam locals.

I pay tribute to my dear friend and Yawuru man Senator Patrick Dodson, who has today announced his retirement from the Federal Parliament.

Patrick has dedicated his life to improving the lives of Indigenous Australians, and deserves our deepest respect and gratitude.

I first met Patrick in 1995, when we worked together on the Recognition, Rights and Reform report for the Keating government.

Over many years, his courage and wisdom has been a powerful source of support.

Australians are stronger when we work together.

We see that during fires, floods and moments of human tragedy.

Right now, events in our world risk tearing our people apart.

The reality of terror and of war has always been horrific. Now in 2023 the images of the Hamas-Israel conflict confront us on our televisions, inboxes and phone screens.

More than ever, we must remind ourselves of Australia's fundamental strength.

The cohesion of our multicultural society is our greatest national asset.

This asset is something we all build.

NATALIE HUTCHINS, VICTORIAN MINISTER FOR TREATY AND FIRST PEOPLES: