PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: It's the final two sitting weeks of 2024. An opportunity to make sure that we do the work the Australian people expect of us. And as we get close to Christmas, we know that Santa's elves are working hard, but we need the Senate to work even harder. To work even harder to deliver the things that will make a real difference on cost of living for the Australian people. A real difference when it comes to action to reduce HECS indexation so people can keep more of what they earn.

Topics: Closing the Gap targets, National Agreement on Closing the Gap. 

The Albanese Labor Government has placed Watarrka National Park in the Northern Territory on the National Heritage List in recognition of the site’s outstanding heritage value to Australia.

Watarrka is in the traditional lands of Anangu ngurraritja (Traditional Owners), who hold a deep connection to country and have cared for the Tjukurrpa (the Dreaming) for tens of thousands of years.

Subjects: Kidney disease, food security in remote communities.

Subjects: Croker Island, food security for remote communities and the incarceration of First Nations people in the Northern Territory.

GREG JENNETT, HOST: The Minister for Indigenous Australians has made a reasonably significant announcement today in an ongoing effort to improve transport and storage of food into remote communities. We spoke to Malarndirri McCarthy about this and more when she joined us from Darwin.

The Albanese Labor Government is investing $9.6 million to improve food security for First Nations people in remote communities.

The government has worked with state and territory governments to identify the remote community stores most in need of immediate support ahead of the upcoming emergency season, with projects to be tailored to local need.

The Store Efficiency and Resilience Package will support upgrades for more than 15 remote stores to ensure a reliable supply of nutritious food and essential groceries.

CHENG LEI, HOST: Joining me now is Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, who has attended a service in Perth. Hi there, Patrick, thanks for joining us. So do you think we would see the likes of Private Richard Norden, in this day and age, that sort of courage and selflessness?

I recently returned home to my community of Borroloola, in the remote Gulf region of the Northern Territory.

It’s home to around 900 people including the Yanyuwa, Garrawa, Marra and Gudanji peoples.

Residents in Borroloola face health challenges that are all too common among First Nations people, including diabetes and kidney disease.

And like residents in other remote communities, they have to travel long distances for health care and treatment.

First Nations children and families will continue to benefit from early childhood activities through a $70.4 million, two-year investment by the Albanese Labor Government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy.

The investment will extend funding for 188 activities across the country, ensuring 173 organisations can continue to support First Nations children in their early years so they can grow up healthy and happy, and support them to be ready for school.

Early childhood is the most critical phase of a child’s development.

The Albanese Labor Government has welcomed the return of 14 First Nations ancestors from four Californian collecting institutions.

Three ancestors were returned from the Fowler Museum at the University of California, two ancestors from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, five ancestors from the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology and four ancestors from the Oakland Museum of California.