Welcome and Opening

Welcome to Parliament House. 

A place full of powerful representatives and ministers. 

A building where Prime Ministers are chosen. 

But also a place where no one can achieve anything alone. 

Similarly, the Australian of the Year Awards are about outstanding individuals. 

But it is not just about individuals. 

These awards are also about friendship and love. 

Australia has these awards as a way of showing love and pride in the people of our country.  

AMES O'LOGHLIN, HOST: Now, the Australian of the Year will be announced on Sunday on, obviously, Australia Day. Don't hold your breath, if it was going to be you, you would have heard by now. So if you haven't heard anything, perhaps unjustly, you've missed out. The New South Wales Australian of the Year in the running for the top award is Kath Koschel, founder of the Kindness Factory. We'll hear from her in a moment. But firstly, Assistant Minister for the Public Service, Pat Gorman joins me. Good morning.

MURRAY JONES, HOST: Well, whichever way you want to celebrate Australia Day it is coming up this weekend, and obviously there has been a bit of controversy around Australia Day in recent times. At ten to eight, my special guest this morning, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, joins me. Good morning, Patrick. How are you? Nice to have you along for the breakfast show today.

Mr Nigel Browne has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Aboriginal Investment NT for a term of five years.

A descendant of the Larrakia and Wulna people, Mr Browne brings a wealth of leadership experience to the role.

He has been CEO of the Larrakia Development Corporation since 2013 and is a Director on the Board of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.

In a record-breaking week for women’s leadership and representation, a new report has revealed more women than ever now sit on Australian Government boards.

The newly released Gender Balance on Australian Government Boards Annual Report 2023-2024 shows that women now hold a record high of 54 per cent of positions on Australian Government boards.

When reporting on gender balance on Australian Government boards first began in 2009, women represented just 33.4 per cent of board members.

The Albanese Labor Government has committed over $2 million towards improving the health of marine parks surrounding Tasmania and sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island.

The South-east Marine Parks network is made up of 14 Australian Marine Parks off the coast of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

It is home to a diverse range of fish and other creatures, such as crabs, coral, sea urchins and sponges.

Iconic species such as southern bluefin tuna and blue whales also roam through the south-east.

Subjects: Cost of living, protests, Anti-Semitism, Queensland budget.

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Welcome back to the show. Peter Dutton has for the first time gained a significant lead over Anthony Albanese as preferred PM amid growing frustration over the cost of living. Joining us to discuss, Northern Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and political strategist Scott Emerson. Malarndirri, wow, look at your hair. You look amazing.

TRACEE HUTCHISON, HOST: You're listening to Fierce on Broad Radio, Tracee Hutchison here with you. Great to have your company. We hear a lot don't we about the gender pay gap, the significant difference in salaries between men and women and efforts to address that divide. Well, a new report this week shows that pay gap is slowly narrowing with women earning $79 cents in every dollar men earn, still probably a gap that's a little too big for my liking and our liking.

TARLA LAMBERT, HOST: Kate Thwaites. It's lovely to have you on the podcast. Thank you so much for making time.

KATE THWAITES, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, AGEING AND WOMEN: I'm really pleased to be joining you.

GREG JENNETT, HOST: Welcome to you both, both familiar to the program but a new combo we are trying here today. Let's start with housing. Kate, I will go to you first. I’m not sure you could credibly deny that the Prime Minister’s purchase with his fiancée of the 4 million dollar property is not a water cooler moment for the nation, it is being discussed widely. Would you acknowledge that?