TUBES, HOST: It’s Triple M Breakfast with Kaz and Tubes, it’s seven minutes to eight, after eight o’clock we’ll talk to Suzi Quatro, but right now, the Minister for Finance, Minister for Women and Minister for the Public Service, the Senator and Honourable Katy Gallagher joins us live. Good morning to you, Senator.

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE: Good morning, thanks for having me on.

The Australian Government, in partnership with the Northern Territory Government, is investing $34.3 million to enhance water security and infrastructure across 10 remote NT communities.

The Better Bores for Communities program will improve water supply and quality, and support growth and development by providing greater certainty of water availability in 7 communities and expanding water supply in 3 others.

The Albanese Labor Government is providing up to $3 million to support local communities and organisations across Australia to celebrate a milestone National NAIDOC Week, from 6 to 13 July 2025.

This year’s National NAIDOC Week marks 50 years of the week-long celebrations, and the theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, celebrates achievements of the past and the bright future ahead.

The Albanese Labor Government has committed over $1.2 million towards improving management of marine parks and supporting First Nations people to manage Sea Country in the Northern Territory.

Charles Darwin University will receive $887,700 for two projects to integrate traditional knowledge with western science to inform marine park management, including:

TRUDY McINTOSH, HOST: I want to continue with our top story and these potential acts of terror in the United States. I'm joined now by the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. Pat, thanks so much for your time. What's the latest advice the Australian Government has on these attacks in New Orleans, in particular, and we saw that explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. At this stage, are any Australians caught up? We know a lot of people are there visiting the US at this time of year.

The Albanese Labor Government has approved a further $31.7 million to improve road safety in the Northern Territory through the Commonwealth’s Road Safety Program.

Together with a $7.9 million contribution from the Northern Territory Government, the investment will deliver upgrades through 10 road safety projects based on risk assessment across the NT road network.

These new projects bring the total contributions under the program since 2023-24 to $45 million from the Albanese Government and $21.2 million from the NT Government.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Deputy Premier. The Commonwealth is really proud to be a 50:50 partner in making this a reality. What we see here are the outcomes of so much hard work from so many, from public servants, from people down at Civmec from people who've worked here for years, building this bridge. And it's going to give us an excellent asset, a tourism asset, a community asset, and even a business asset.

The Federal Government has provided more than $10 million in financial support for hundreds of Australia Day 2025 community events in every state and territory.

Australia Day gives us time to connect with family, friends and community – a day to celebrate the freedoms we share and the values and beliefs we hold. 

It is a day to reflect on our complete and complex history, to acknowledge the past, and respect and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ history and continuing culture.

Mr Karl Hampton has been appointed Councillor of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) for a four-year term.

Mr Hampton is a Warlpiri man from Central Australia, who over many decades has become a well-respected leader, researcher and community historian.

He is currently Director of Indigenous Strategy at the Central Desert Regional Council and a member of the Aboriginal Advisory Board for the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

Topics: Central Australia, Equatorial Launch, Budget.

ADAM STEER, HOST: Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, who's the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Senator, welcome to the program and Merry Christmas.

MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS, MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Oh, good morning to you, Adam, and Merry Christmas to you and all your listeners. It's just lovely to get to this time of year.

ADAM STEER: Yeah, it is. Have we had a highlight for the year, Senator?