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.

On Thursday, 29 September 2022, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the Attorney General, and the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians met with the Referendum Engagement Group (the Group) for the first time.

The historic gathering of the Referendum Engagement Group brought together more than 60 First Nations leaders and representatives of key organisations from across Australia.

On Thursday, 29 September 2022, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the Attorney General, and the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians met with the Referendum Working Group (the Group).

The Working Group will advise the Australian Government on implementing a referendum within this term of Parliament to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice (the Voice) in the Australian Constitution.

We are pleased to announce that the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), has accepted the advice of the Government to appoint the Honourable Justice Jayne Jagot as a Justice of the High Court of Australia.

Justice Jagot will commence on 17 October 2022 upon the retirement of the Honourable Justice Patrick Keane AC.

Justice Jagot is the 56th Justice of the High Court and the seventh woman appointed to the Court. This is the first time since Federation that a majority of Justices on the High Court will be women.

The first meetings of the Referendum Working Group and the Referendum Engagement Group will be held in Canberra today.

The groups will work with Government on the next steps to a referendum in this term of Parliament to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution.

The Referendum Working Group, co-chaired by Minister Linda Burney and Special Envoy Patrick Dodson, includes a broad cross-section of representatives from First Nations communities across Australia.