The Commonwealth Minister for Indigenous Australians met with State and Territory Ministers responsible for Indigenous Affairs via videoconference on Monday, to discuss priorities and actions to improve outcomes for First Nations people.

Ministers acknowledged the recent appointments of Commonwealth Minister Malarndirri McCarthy and Northern Territory Minister Steven Edgington and wished outgoing Tasmanian Minister Roger Jaensch well.

Queensland and Australian Capital Territory Ministers did not attend the meeting due to elections in those jurisdictions.

Indigenous students studying at boarding schools will have support to finish their schooling and boost their success, with the Albanese Labor Government extending the Indigenous Boarding Providers Grants Program until the end of 2026.

Boarding plays an important role for many Indigenous students from rural and remote communities. 

A $43.2 million investment will support approximately 2,500 students attending more than 40 boarding schools and stand-alone boarding facilities and deliver wrap-around supports to boost students' success at school.

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Joining me live Assistant Minister to Prime Minister Patrick Gorman and former MP and former New South Wales Liberal Party President Jason Falinski. Gentlemen, thank you both for your time. Pat, I assume you were there, what did you make of that interjection from Lidia Thorpe?

GREG JENNETT, HOST: Well, these days, these royal tours don't come off without months of intricate planning, covering everything from airports to police details, parliamentary protocols, flowers, wardrobe selection, you name it. Now within the federal bureaucracy, much of the co-ordination for this falls to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the main minister responsible for those functions is the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister. That would be Patrick Gorman, and he joins us now in the studio. Patrick, welcome back to Afternoon Briefing.

FLOYD DOYLE: Speaking about being ready, I wasn’t even ready for what has just happened here at CAAMA radio. You wouldn't believe who's just walked into my studio, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy. How are you, my friend? I haven't seen you for a long time.

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Good morning, and good morning to all your listeners. I thought, yeah, look, I'm just going to drop in and see what you're doing and hang out for a little bit.

STEWART BRASH, HOST: In the lead-up to Summer, federal Labor’s been in Alice Springs, they’ve been splashing some cash, we’ve heard about the boarding facilities for three schools here in Alice, school holiday programs, community patrols. And just this morning the Feds have announced $1.5 million to support up to 90 Aboriginal job seekers here in Central Australia. Now, that will go to Saltbush's Foundation to the Future program. Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians, good morning.

I acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land we’re gathered on tonight. And thank you to Aunty Maxine Ryan for your Welcome to Country.

I recognise the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, for her attendance and speech tonight.

And I thank Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, President of Chief Executive Women and her team for organising tonight’s event, and all of tonight’s panellists.

At least 90 First Nations job seekers in Alice Springs will have access to support to get job-ready and find employment, as the Albanese Labor Government continues to invest in Closing the Gap in employment outcomes in Central Australia.

The investment includes $1.5 million for the Saltbush Foundation to Future (F2F) initiative, which engages with First Nations jobseekers to find suitable work.

MARION SCRYMGOUR, MEMBER FOR LINGIARI: I want to welcome everyone to this fantastic function. It is really great to be joined by Minister McCarthy, who often comes down here, but certainly, today, making the announcement about the Albanese Government’s commitment to upgrade and to provide funding to schools like Yirara to get better boarding facilities for young people coming from not just in the Northern Territory, but right throughout regional Australia.

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Hello, my name's Malarndirri McCarthy. I'm the Senator for the Northern Territory and Minister for Indigenous Australians. And I'm here to show your Mayor how to play table tennis.