With the announcement of the 2025 federal election, the caretaker period is now in effect.

In accordance with the caretaker conventions, new material, including transcripts and media releases, may not be available on this site. This information is usually available on the Australian Labor Party website, which is not maintained or funded by the Commonwealth of Australia.

Radio interview - Triple J Hack with Darvid Marchese

DAVE MARCHESE, HOST: Next month will mark a year since Australia's Voice to Parliament referendum. Now, people remember the referendum was defeated after a really intense and sometimes toxic debate. So, where are we now? Because since then, Australia's got a new Minister for Indigenous Australians. Linda Burney has finished up in the job and now NT Senator Malarndirri McCarthy has taken over. So, we wanted to have a check in and speak with the new Minister. She's with us now. Malarndirri McCarthy, thank you very much for joining us on Hack.

Radio interview - National Indigenous Radio Service

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Hello, it's Malarndirri McCarthy here. I'm the Senator for the Northern Territory and Minister for Indigenous Australians, and I'm a Yanyuwa Garrawa woman from Borroloola in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

NANCE HAXTON, JOURNALIST: Senator, thank you so much for joining us on the National Indigenous Radio Service today.

McCARTHY: My pleasure Nance, thankyou for having me on.

UnitingCare Australia Leaders’ Forum

Good morning, everyone.

I’m Kate Thwaites, Assistant Minister for Social Security, Ageing and Women.

I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional owners of the land I – and many of you – are on today, and pay my respects to elders past and present.

I am honoured to have been invited to speak at the UnitingCare Australia Leaders’ Forum.

As one of the largest non-government providers of social services and healthcare in the country, UnitingCare is a trusted partner in delivering the Albanese Labor government’s vision of:

Inaugural First Nations Board for the arts

The Albanese Labor Government is continuing to implement ground-breaking measures set out in Revive, with the appointment of 10 members to the new First Nations Board to support and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts practice.

It follows the passage of legislation earlier this year to establish First Nations Arts as a new part of Creative Australia, the Government’s principal arts investment and advisory body.

Video message - Community Development Program Provider Forum, Adelaide

Hello everyone, it’s Malarndirri McCarthy here – coming to you from the lands of the Larrakia people.

I acknowledge you’re on the lands of the Kaurna people and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the First Nations community-controlled organisations and other providers attending today’s forum.

Sorry I can't be with you in person.

Thank you for the important work you do in supporting job seekers in remote Australia on their path to employment.

Settlement reached in NT historical wages class action

The Northern Territory historical wages class action (Minnie McDonald v Commonwealth of Australia) has moved closer to resolution, with the parties reaching a settlement for up to $202 million.

The class action was brought by Minnie McDonald on behalf of thousands of First Nations people who lived and worked in the Northern Territory between 1933 and 1971.

During that time, Commonwealth laws allowed First Nations people in the Northern Territory to be paid much less than non-Indigenous people for the same work.