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?

The Australian Government is providing financial support for hundreds of Australia Day 2025 community events around the country.

Funding eligibility has been expanded for 2025 to ensure our national day is inclusive of the stories and histories of all Australians, including those from regional and remote Australia.

Under the Australia Day 2025 Community Events Grant Program, local councils, Government entities and not-for-profit organisations are eligible to apply for a fixed grant of $10,000 to deliver inclusive events on our national day.

The Albanese Labor Government is continuing to invest in supporting Yolngu-led business development in the East Arnhem region of the Northern Territory.

$500,000 will be provided to independent not-for-profit Developing East Arnhem Limited (DEAL) to extend its business development function in East Arnhem for a further two years.

This doubles the Government’s total investment to $1 million over four years, following an initial investment of $500,000 in Indigenous Advancement Strategy funding previously provided for this important initiative.

Good morning everyone.

I’d like to start by acknowledging the Ngunnawal people, the traditional custodians of these lands.

And thanks for that welcome Violet, I really appreciate that.

I have to say that in my role in the Future Made in Australia portfolio, but particularly in the trade portfolio, I agree with the sentiment Aunty Violet expressed about how we get these questions right following the referendum.

It want Australians understand how important it is to have 65,000 years of history – it is an enormous asset in global terms.

The Albanese Labor Government is providing $5 million to Thirrili Ltd to ensure the continued delivery of support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families impacted by suicide.

The funding extension to Thirrili, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisation, ensures culturally safe and trauma-informed postvention services are available for families affected by the loss of a loved one by suicide.

The Albanese Government has taken further steps to ensure transparency on ministerial appointments, a key recommendation of the Bell Inquiry.

Regulations, approved by the Governor-General today, will make sure all ministerial appointments since the election of the Albanese Government are reported with transparency.

The Ministers of State Amendment Act 2023 took effect in November 2023, and in doing so, it drew a line in the sand. It meant that all ministerial appointments going forward would be required to be publicly reported.

OLIVER PETERSON, HOST: We'll go to Canberra now, where we are joined by the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and the Member for Perth, Patrick Gorman. Good afternoon.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon, Oly, and good afternoon to your listeners.

PETERSON: Why didn't you attend the farmers rally yesterday?

GORMAN: Oly, I've been I'm in Parliament. When Parliament's on, I've got to be here doing my job, representing my -