The First Nations Reference Group for the Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program held its sixth meeting online today.
The $707 million Remote Jobs and Economic Development program announced in February 2024, will create 3,000 jobs in remote Australia, to help close the gap in employment outcomes, boost economic opportunities and invest in cultural authority.
TOM CONNELL, HOST: Welcome back, Joe Biden has tapped the mat - that is official. So, whatever happens, the Australian Government will have to deal with a new President. Joining me now live is Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman, thanks for your time. The Prime Minister was on holiday but then popped up on a press conference, didn't he trust the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, to hold the fort at that point and you know, reassure everyone that everything was fine?
Australia continues to make progress towards gender equality ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted by 189 countries at the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1985, with the aim to advance gender equality worldwide.
The Commonwealth and South Australian Governments are backing the Port Augusta and surrounding community – committing $12 million over 3 years to deliver the next phase of the Port Augusta Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan.
A new Community Partnership will be established, to put the locals in the driver’s seat and trial better coordination between state and federal investment in community services.
SARAH MORICE, HOST: Now, if you live in a regional or remote part of Australia, getting around to carry out everyday tasks like grocery shopping or getting to school can be a bit of a logistical ordeal. That's probably an understatement. But for those living with serious and complex health issues, distance and wild, unpredictable weather can make the difference between life and death.
Assistant Minister Patrick Gorman will travel to France from 15 to 18 July to represent the Australian Government and promote Australia’s trade and tourism interests, as well as Australia’s role as the host of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This visit will mark the launch of direct flights between Perth and Paris, commencing just in time for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
MATT DORAN, HOST: For more on this, we were joined from Darwin by the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy. Malarndirri McCarthy, welcome back to Afternoon Briefing. We've seen the news today that the curfew in Alice Springs will not be extended. What's your response to that news?
JASON CLARE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: G’day everyone. I'm here with Linda Burney to make a very special announcement in NAIDOC Week about the extra investment that we're making to support young Indigenous children to finish school and then go on to TAFE or university.
The Albanese Government is providing funding to two First Nations organisations to support more students to succeed at school and beyond.
The Government is investing $4 million to support the GO Foundation’s scholarships, which support Indigenous students to succeed in school and prepare for the workforce.
The Government is also investing an additional $4.5 million to support the Aurora Education Foundation’s Redefining Indigenous Success in Education (RISE) initiative.
The Albanese Labor Government is establishing 12 new Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) following a $14.6 million investment, delivering on its election commitment.
IPAs are areas of land and sea Country managed by First Nations groups, which help deliver better nature protections and good local jobs.
From the Western Australian deserts to the NSW rainforests, the new projects combined will protect 7.5 million hectares of land and 450,000 hectares of sea Country – bigger than the size of Tasmania.