The Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Programme (AACAP) has celebrated 25 years of projects that improve liveability in remote Australia at a community event in the 2022 host community, Gapuwiyak, Northern Territory.

Each year, more than 100 Army personnel deploy for up to five months into a remote Aboriginal community to upgrade or deliver new infrastructure, contribute to local health programs, deliver training, create lasting job opportunities, and share knowledge and cultural experiences.

I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners on the land of which we meet today here in Canberra – on Ngunnawal Country, and I extend my respects to elders past and present.

I extend this respect to the traditional owners from the lands where other participants are joining from today and to any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples joining us here.

Can I also acknowledge and thank everyone for joining to listen to this speech.

In particular, Glyn Davis, Katherine Jones, Kathy Leigh.

Introduction

Thank you Paul for your welcome to Country.

I pay my respects to the ancient Ngambri-Ngunnawal peoples.

And acknowledge all elders gathered here from ‘every point under the southern sky’.

Thank you everyone.

We have not been able to get together to mark important events for a few years.

It warms my heart to be here with you all to celebrate ANTaR’s 25th anniversary.

25 years strong!

MATT CUNNINGHAM, HOST: Joining me live is Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Pat Gorman. Minister, thanks for your time. Does this mean we now have a guarantee that Australians will be seeing that money in their pockets come 2024?

The Albanese Labor Government has released the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Review of the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 (Cth).

This is the first substantial review of the MoP(S) Act to take place since the Act’s establishment almost forty years ago.

This Review was commissioned by the former Government in response to recommendation 18 of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces, Set the Standard.

The Albanese Government has released a new interim workplace relations policy for Commonwealth public servants delivering a 3 per cent increase to public servant’s wages over the next 12 months.

This decision is designed to allow for proper consultation on developing a longer term policy that supports reducing the fragmentation of pay and conditions across the Australian Public Service (APS).

The Australian and Northern Territory Governments have signed the two-year extension to the National Partnership on Northern Territory Remote Aboriginal Investment (NTRAI).

The agreement provides an additional $173.2 million for health, education, community safety, Aboriginal interpreter services in remote Northern Territory communities and ensures continuity for 400 jobs.

The Albanese Government is committed to First Nations people, communities and organisations being involved in shaping the policies and programs that affect them.

The Australian and Northern Territory Governments have signed the two-year extension to the National Partnership on Northern Territory Remote Aboriginal Investment (NTRAI).

The agreement provides an additional $173.2 million for health, education, community safety, Aboriginal interpreter services in remote Northern Territory communities and ensures continuity for 400 jobs.

The Albanese Government is committed to First Nations people, communities and organisations being involved in shaping the policies and programs that affect them.

I acknowledge the traditional owners on the land we meet today - the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation. I extend that welcome to those in the room.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.

Normally, I would acknowledge the notable elected representatives – but I only have 15 minutes.

I do wish to acknowledge the WA Local Government Association President, Cr Karen Chappel and chief executive officer Nick Sloan.

I will also acknowledge the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko.

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation.

Thank you for the invitation to speak at this Breakfast on the Run event this morning.

But I have to be honest, I am much more of a walker.

Our community has such incredible places to do so.

To take time and take it all in: Hyde Park, Kings Park, anywhere along the Swan River.

Because in my role, there’s always running.

In my first 12 months, I ran twice for Parliament.

And then every three years, I’m running again.