First Nations representatives will gather in Darwin today to share their ideas for driving Australia’s economic growth and productivity.

The event is the first of four First Nations roundtables hosted by the Minister for Indigenous Australians.

The forums will ensure that First Nations perspectives inform the broader national Economic Reform Roundtable to be held in Canberra later this month.

The gatherings will focus on approaches to improve productivity, enhance economic resilience and strengthen budget sustainability.

TOM CONNELL, HOST:  Joining me now, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman. Thank you for your time today. Some strong comments from your colleague, Ed Husic, on the protests we saw over the weekend. He says: 'politicians have underestimated how strongly Australians feel about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.’ Is that accurate? 

The CEO of the National Indigenous Australians Agency, Jody Broun has announced she will be stepping down from her role on Friday 29 August 2025.

I would like to thank Ms Broun, a proud Yinjibarndi woman from Western Australia’s Pilbara region, for her leadership of the National Indigenous Australians Agency and for helping to guide this important organisation through a period of positive change.

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering on our promise to protect and promote the rights of First Nations children and young people with the appointment of Australia’s first National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People.

We are pleased to announce Adjunct Professor Sue-Anne Hunter will take on this role, commencing later this year.

Subjects: Garma 25th anniversary, Closing the Gap, Economic Empowerment, referendum, Northern Territory funding, truth telling.

FAUZIA IMBRAHIM, HOST: Indigenous leaders at the Garma Festival in North East Arnhem Land are urging a rethink on solving critical problems facing First Nations communities. While yesterday's announcement of an economic plan for First Nations communities to prosper has been widely welcomed, there are still concerns over other challenges for the Indigenous community.

Subjects: Closing the Gap, Economic Empowerment, truth telling, treaty, Northern Territory Government funding, Welcome to Country, Senator Price court case, Sydney protest.

ANDREW CLENNELL, SKY NEWS: Joining me live is the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, who was there yesterday. Malarndirri McCarthy, thanks for your time. What do you make of Matt Cunningham's commentary there that your government's been burnt by the Voice result and you're not going to be too ambitious when it comes to Indigenous affairs.

Subjects: Garma 25th anniversary, Economic Empowerment, Closing the Gap, truth telling, treaty.

JOHN PAUL JANKE, NITV: Minister, thanks for joining us today. Can I get your thoughts? The Prime Minister just gave an address here at Garma. He made some new commitments. One of them was $70 million to PBCs to help them sort of get greater traction through the Native Title Act. Why do PBCs need assistance?

The Albanese Government has established a new First Nations Economic Partnership – with the Coalition of Peaks and the First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance.

The Partnership will work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people around Australia to leverage land and Native Title, boost skills and education, create jobs and back business.

Struggling breaths in the back seat. Panicked breaths in the front seat. Dad running an amber light that was really more like red on the way to the hospital. Only to end up spending hours with doctors and then hours more on a nebuliser. That is the reality of chronic childhood asthma.

That was my reality.

Today, asthma does not bother me the way it used to. But I still remember the fear.

Today on World Ranger Day, the Albanese Government is furthering its commitment to support Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers to protect and manage the Great Barrier Reef with a $12.6 million investment.

The Government is expanding the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers Program and boosting its ability to deliver activities that improve water quality and protect ecologically and culturally significant species on the Reef.

This could include activities such as restoring important habitats and managing pests that pose a threat to the health of the Reef.