TOM CONNELL, HOST: Joining me today, the newly appointed Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. A good day for you, I suppose. One of those days you can sort of relax a bit. There's no big decisions or anything like that. Bring the kids along. Did you have to explain to the difference between the Prime Minister and Assistant to the Prime Minister?

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Joining me today, the newly appointed Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. A good day for you, I suppose. One of those days you can sort of relax a bit. There's no big decisions or anything like that. Bring the kids along. Did you have to explain to the difference between the Prime Minister and Assistant to the Prime Minister?

Subjects:  Junior Rangers program expansion, Budget.

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering for all women and girls by investing in economic equality, healthcare, and safety.

These investments over three years are outlined in the 2025-26 Women’s Budget Statement, which outlines key government investments across a range of areas.

Because of these investments, women are earning on average $217 more a week than they were in May 2022.

Australian women will also benefit from two more tax cuts that Labor is delivering in 2026 and 2027.

KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Welcome back to the program. Joining me live in the studio is the Assistant Minister for Women, Kate Thwaites. Budget Reply tonight, they've leaked one thing and that is the fuel excise reduction. Is that something that will be well received by voters? Is it? Would Labor have been smart to match that?

The Albanese Government has appointed Ms Taryn Lee and Mr Mark Munnich as Directors of the Board of Outback Stores Pty Ltd.

A Yawuru woman from Broome, Ms Lee has led the design and development of social policy and programs, and reforms in health, justice and Aboriginal affairs, promoting self-determination to improve outcomes for First Nations people.

The Albanese Government has appointed two new directors to the Board of Indigenous Business Australia (IBA).

Mr Brian Bero and Dr Doug McTaggart both bring extensive experience to their new roles.

Mr Bero is a Meriam (Torres Strait Islander) man. He is a Co-founder, Principal and Director of Jaramer Legal and has worked as a lawyer with the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office, Gilbert + Tobin, and several large corporations such as Qantas, Telstra and Oracle.

Thanks so much, Jamila. And I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today, the Ngunnawal people. And I pay my respects to Elders past and present, and I extend that respect to all First Nations people joining us today.

I particularly want to acknowledge strength and leadership of First Nations women in Australia, who are so often leaders in their communities, holders of knowledge and constant advocates for equality.

Applications will open tomorrow for new on-Country learning opportunities as part of a $6 million expansion of the Albanese Labor Government’s Junior Rangers program.

A targeted, competitive grant opportunity will see up to 10 new Junior Ranger projects created across the country, including in every state and territory.

Ranger groups, schools and community organisations in the following locations can apply for funding under the expansion:

ABBEY CULLEN, HOST: You're on the Goldfields 981 Triple M. Hey, happy Wednesday. It's Abbey with you, taking you through till three. Right now, I've got Patrick Gorman on the line. He's all the way over in Canberra. He's the Federal Member for Perth, Assistant to the Prime Minister, Patrick. Thank you so much for joining us. I can imagine you've had a busy couple of hours talking all things Budget. So I don't want to hold you too long, let's get straight into it - the tax cuts for 2026.