More remote communities are set to benefit from the Albanese Labor Government’s Food Security Resilience Package with an additional seven remote stores to receive funding.
Food and grocery availability in remote communities can be seriously affected by seasonal and extreme weather events and insufficient store infrastructure to hold supplies.
TRELAWNEY STATION, TAMWORTH, NSW
Thank you for that warm welcome.
It’s lovely to see all of you here.
It’s been a bit of a sad time for me, I’ve just had some Sorry Business with the loss of my Dad.
But coming here was really important to me, to still be able to come and spend time with you.
I recognise that we are gathered here today on the lands of the Gomeroi people.
I respect your continuing connection to this Country and pay my respects to Elders past and present.
TOM CONNELL, HOST: All right, let's check in on the week in politics, joining me Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, and former Liberal MP for Mackellar, Jason Falinski. Why don't we begin with you, Jason, I know you're coming in on the long run up on the Government's roundtable on productivity. I don't know if they've formally invited the Opposition, but they say all good ideas are going to be welcome. So do you want to put something forward in the sort of spirit of bipartisanship?
The Albanese Labor Government has welcomed the return of 10 First Nations ancestors from three Japanese collecting institutions. A joint ceremony was held in Tokyo to acknowledge the significance of returning these ancestors back to their Traditional Custodians and country of origin. This is the first ever return of ancestors from Japan.
Seven ancestors were returned from the University of Tokyo, which included one Kaurna Old Person who was returned to the South Australian Kaurna Nation Traditional Custodians.
The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report has seen Australia rise 11 places in the global rankings to 13th out of 148 countries for gender equality, the highest ever ranking since the Index began in 2006.
This significant jump from last year’s ranking of 24th marks the third consecutive increase for Australia since the Albanese Labor Government was elected in 2022.
Australia’s ranking had fallen to an all-time low of 50th place under the former Liberal National Government.
The Albanese Government has today announced $30 million to support a new Traditional Owner-led program to protect and manage the Great Barrier Reef.
The $30 million Traditional Owner Water Quality Program will harness the knowledge and skills of First Nations people to improve the quality of water flowing to the Reef.
The Program will deliver projects that are grounded in Traditional Owner values and reflect the connections between Country, People and Culture.
PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: I spoke to the Assistant Employment Minister, Patrick Gorman, a short time ago. Patrick Gorman, welcome to the programme, and congratulations on your new role.
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Thank you very much, Patricia, it's great to be with you.
KARVELAS: Now the final wage result has fallen between the sort of competing demands from the trade union movement and business groups. Do you think that workers deserve more?
GARY ADSHEAD, HOST: And it is WA Day. I find the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, the Member for Perth, in the studio with me. Happy WA Day.
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Happy WA Day to you, Gary, and to all of your listeners.
ADSHEAD: Is it a big day for you? Like, is there a lot of events around that we probably don't even know about?
CHENG LEI, HOST: Joining me live is Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. Hi there, Patrick, great to have you on the show. What do you think of these tariff hikes and what we can do, aside from 'tut-tutting' the move?