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.

Mrs Josephine Linden has been appointed an Honorary Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to the Australia-United States bilateral relationship, the international finance sector, and the professional development of Australians.

For 40 years, Mrs Linden has lived in New York and carved out an impressive career in one of the world's leading financial centres, while navigating a traditionally male-dominated industry.

A ceremony near the remote community of Tjuntjunjara has celebrated the dedication of Anangu Tjutaku Indigenous Protected Area, Australia’s third largest Indigenous Protected Area. 

Larger than Tasmania, the protected area covers 9.7 million hectares in Western Australia’s Great Victoria Desert on the native title lands of the Spinifex, Pilki and Untiri Pulka peoples. 

Indigenous Protected Areas are an essential component of Australia’s National Reserve System – the network of formally recognised parks, reserves and protected areas across Australia.

I want to acknowledge and pay my respects to the Kaurna people where we are meeting today – and honour their custodianship and care for Country.

And I extend that respect to all First Nations people and groups here today – those from Australia and those that have come from around the world.

Thank you to Karl Winda Telfer and the Yellaka dancers for that deeply moving Welcome to Country. And Kaurna Elders Uncle Lewis O’Brien and Aunty Yvonne Agius.

And it’s wonderful to see so many young people here today.

GREG JENNETT, HOST: Okay, why don't we bring in now our political panel for today? And joining us in the studio, Labor MP for Perth and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman's. back. And New South Wales Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg is here too. Welcome to both of you. Why don't we start with, I suppose, the major talking point, at least coming out of Question Time there in the House, Pat, and that's the cyber attack on Optus with Clare O'Neil flagging some sort of policy regime that will flow from this.

The Albanese Government will this week introduce reforms to help get more Indigenous children into early education.

As part of the Government’s Plan for Cheaper Child Care, all Indigenous children will be able to access 36 hours of subsidised childcare a fortnight from July 2023.

At the moment only 4.3 per cent of children in early education and care identify as Indigenous despite being 6.1 per cent of the population of children aged 0-5 years.

We know access to high quality early education and care can impact a child’s readiness for school.

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Joining me now is Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman. Thanks very much for your time. I'm really interested in the budget repair side of things because last election, neither side really was going to do anything about this. How urgent do you see budget repair as? Is it a next couple of years project? Is it the next five years project? When do we need to get back to balance, at least?

MATTHEW DORAN, HOST: The Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, joined me in the studio a short time ago. Patrick Gorman, welcome to Afternoon Briefing. Thanks for joining us today. Quite an interesting service that we've all seen here in Parliament House today. What do you think is the significance of it?

The Australian Government is seeking public expressions of interest from individuals to be considered for the Ambassador for First Nations People.

The Government is delivering on its commitment to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full, and embed Indigenous perspectives, experiences and interests into our foreign policy.

Australia’s foreign policy should reflect our modern diversity and the rich heritage of First Nations people.

The Albanese Government’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce (WEET) will meet for the first time today and delivers on an election commitment to prioritise advice to government on the many issues facing women in the Australian economy.

The appointment of 12 eminent women will join the Chair of the Taskforce, Sam Mostyn AO, as the inaugural membership of the Taskforce.