This week I will travel to Laos for ASEAN meetings, then to Thailand to co-chair the inaugural Thailand-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue.

This year marks 50 years since Australia became ASEAN’s first dialogue partner. Southeast Asia is a centre of global economic activity and business, and is one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.

In Laos, I will co-chair the 56th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting and promote the benefits of our upgraded trade agreement, the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA.

Good morning, everyone.

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands we meet on today, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and pay my respects to elders past and present. And thank you to Aunty Zeta Thomson for your Welcome to Country.

Thank you to Professor Comans and the team at NARI for inviting me to open your Annual Summit.

It’s been around seven weeks since I took up the role of Assistant Minister for Social Security, Ageing and Women.

GREG JENNETT, HOST: All right, so as we sit at the top today, we have Senators all around us this afternoon. As it edges closer to wrapping up its week with a little acrimony and not a whole lot to show for it. The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, has just come from the Chamber. She's in the studio with us now and we'll welcome you back once again.

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Hello, Greg.

GREG JENNETT: Senator —

The Australian Government is investing $4.3 million for a new program to ensure that victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence or child sexual abuse in the ACT can get better support.

New parents will now receive important superannuation contributions when they take time off to care for their babies, bringing Paid Parental Leave in line with other workplace entitlements.

The Albanese Labor Government has legislated paying superannuation on Paid Parental Leave with the passage of the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Adding Superannuation for a More Secure Retirement) Bill 2024 in the Senate today.

SARAH ABO, HOST: Joining us to discuss today's headlines is Northern Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and WA Senator Michaelia Cash. Thank you both for your time this morning from Canberra. Malarndirri, let's start with you. Pagers yesterday. Walkie talkies today. Israel has not only managed to infiltrate Hezbollah's technology, but their supply network as well. It's extraordinary and chilling.

Today the Australian Public Service Commission has launched three new Australian Public Service (APS) professional streams. The programs are APS procurement and contract management, evaluation and complex project management practices.

This is a significant next step in the Albanese Government’s determination to uplift the capability of the APS.

Australian Public Service Commissioner, Dr Gordon de Brouwer has appointed six Profession co-heads. Each co-head will bring the expertise and leadership required to embed these disciplines into the APS.

It is a privilege to be here with so many remarkable Western Australians and to be part of the first-ever Impact Economy Forum.

Here at Kings Park, where people have gathered for thousands of years.

I sometimes have to pinch myself when I think about how many of our state’s great treasures are in my electorate.I cannot imagine Perth without Kings Park. Our city without the Swan River. And I cannot imagine Western Australia without the power of impact investing.

Residents of Bulla in the Northern Territory now have improved access to affordable food and other essentials, as part of the Albanese Labor Government’s continued investment in improving food security in remote First Nations communities.

Government-owned company, Outback Stores, has assisted the community to re-open the Janyima local store following several years of closure, improving in-community access for residents of Bulla, 60 kilometres west of Timber Creek.

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Joining me now for more on this. Our regular panel, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, and former Liberal MP and New South Wales party president, former there as well, Jason Falinski. Gentlemen, thanks both for your time. Pat, I won't ask you to comment on polls. I get you've got the lines ready there. So, I'm going to put it this way. We know Labor is struggling. Let me ask you this: are you confident Labor will win the next election?