Welcome to my hometown. 

I grew up right here in Fremantle. My primary school is around the corner on Henry Street. My childhood home on the same road as Fremantle Prison, a building now on the World Heritage List. Back then, home to 337 of Western Australia’s prisoners.  

The Albanese Labor Government is investing a further $2.5 million in community-led safety patrols in Alice Springs and surrounding remote communities, to improve community safety in Central Australia.

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, joined the Lhere Artepe and Tangentyere Night Patrol services in Alice Springs this week to see first-hand the important work being carried out by patrollers.

This funding will boost capacity during busy periods, such as the summer school holidays.

First Nations students from remote communities in Central Australia will have greater access to quality education, with $18 million from the Albanese Labor Government’s Central Australia Boarding Response Fund being made available to three Alice Springs schools.

Yirara College will be offered up to $10 million and St Philip’s College up to $1.7 million to upgrade existing facilities, while Yipirinya School will be offered up to $6.3 million for a new boarding facility, providing greater capacity to accommodate students in the region.

The Albanese Labor Government is investing $3.2 million to deliver school holiday activities for Central Australian children and young people over the next two years.

The funding will support community organisations and local councils in Alice Springs and across Central Australia to deliver more youth programs and activities during school holidays.

Making learning-based activities accessible for young people and their families will provide enormous health benefits and encourage positive engagement with peers and community youth services.

Remote Australia, with its vast landscapes and sparse populations, is a region rich in potential.

Having grown up in Borroloola, about 1,000 kilometres from Darwin in the Northern Territory, I have experienced first-hand both the challenges and possibilities that exist in remote communities.

For many people living in remote small towns, finding a job can be difficult – and sometimes daunting.

Labour markets are vastly different to those in regional and urban areas.

The University of Western Australia is home to a special senior citizen. They have lived here for 62 years.

IBM 1620 was the first “stored program” computer ever to operate in Western Australia. This paper tape computer was first switched on by Dennis Moore in September 1962. Dennis was Officer-in-Charge of the UWA Computing Centre. A small part of the mathematics department. But he knew if he trained people, if the University created the qualifications of the future, Australia could again, choose our own luck.

And we did.

EMMA KELLAWAY: Senator, obviously today marks one year since the referendum. Since then, you’ve said your government is still committed to the principles of treaty and Makarrata, but will you take a promise of establishing a Makarrata Truth-telling Commission to the next election?

RHIANNA PATRICK: Minister, it's been a year since the Voice referendum. What do you think the impact has been on Indigenous policy across all levels of government, and not just federally?

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Joining me now, we've got Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman and former New South Wales Liberal Party President and MP Jason Falinski, thanks both for your time. Pat, down now in Newspoll. When do you panic?

“Mum, why would Australia say no to us having a voice?” my 9-year-old asked.

It was referendum night, and the No votes were coming in across the country on the television broadcasts.

I hugged my daughter and said, “a lot of Australians want us to have a voice, it was just not enough Australians. But hey, we get up tomorrow and we keep going my daughter. There’s always another sunrise.”

Today marks one year since Australians voted on whether to change the Constitution to include an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.