TOM CONNELL, HOST: On a day out from the budget, few days out, we think, from the election. Joining me now Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman and former Liberal MP, Jason Falinski. Thank you both for your time. We've got pictures, I think, coming in from the budget for all of you excitedly wanting to see the pallets of paper, as Patrick just called them. Well, what we do know is in there, Patrick is a whole heap of spending and $2 billion in savings. That's it.

Subjects: Federal Budget; Tax Cuts.

ADAM STEER, HOST: Northern Territory Labor Senator and Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy. Senator, welcome back to the program.

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Good morning, Adam. Good morning to your listeners.

ADAM STEER: Let's start with the roads, $200 million for the Stuart Highway, is that enough?

More First Nations students in Central Australia will have greater access to quality education, thanks to $6.3 million from the Albanese Labor Government being allocated to two boarding providers.

The Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education has been offered $5.1 million towards construction of its new culturally safe and supported accommodation centre in the Desert Knowledge Precinct in Alice Springs.

The Albanese Labor Government is supporting First Nations women and children living in Darwin in the Northern Territory to leave violent intimate partner relationships.

The North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service has received $9 million in funding to work in partnership with Danila Dilba Health Services, the Darwin Aboriginal and Islander Women’s Shelter and Yilli Rreung Housing to support victim-survivors.

This is one of three regional place-based trials commencing from 1 July – complementing the next stage of the $925 million Leaving Violence Program.

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Well, the Prime Minister has attended a $100,000 fundraising dinner with campaign donors despite his government's criticism of the Opposition Leader for doing the same. According to The Nightly, Anthony Albanese, last night, attended a $10,000 a head dinner at the upscale Aria restaurant, it overlooks the Sydney Opera House. He was reportedly one of ten guests at the dinner. The Prime Minister's staff had rescheduled the fundraiser to Sunday evening from its original date two weeks ago, that was due to Cyclone Alfred.

GEORGIA STYNES, HOST: Now, across the ACT and in the Northern Territory today, Australian flags were flying at half mast. So, how much do you actually know about which occasions are marked in this way? Joining us to have a chat about this is Patrick Gorman, Assistant Minister for the Prime Minister and our guest on Drive. Good afternoon.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon, Georgia. And good afternoon to your listeners, whether or not they be fans of knowing intricate detail about flag protocol or not.

Today’s event is about the audience, all of you. Today, we are joining from around Australia.

From some 583 public service worksites across this country – and even some who serve our country overseas. Every day you bring dedication, commitment and service to the Australian Public Service.

To you, I say a heartfelt thank you. You are there when people need you most. This is what builds Australians trust in their public service.

Together, you have cut wait times, improved support for vulnerable Australians, and delivered better services in your communities.

ALICIA PAYNE MP, MEMBER FOR CANBERRA: Good morning, everyone. I'm Alicia Payne, the member for Canberra, and I'm here this morning with Minister Katy Gallagher and with Sarah McDougall and her children, Eloise and Ryder, who have welcomed us into their home this morning to talk about how important it is to have flexibility and working from home rights for workers. As we know, Peter Dutton wants to take this away from public servants.

NADIA MITSOPOULOS, HOST: Well, the annual GST distribution has been released by the Commonwealth Grants Commission. That happened this morning. It always brings with it some argument between the states about what is fair and what is not. Now you will remember WA's share of the GST is protected by a deal done in 2018 which ensures that we now get at least 75 cents in the dollar, and if any other state is worth worse off as a result, they will get a top-up from the Federal Government. But what we're wondering is how sustainable that will actually be in the long term.

SELINA WALKER, CHAIR, YERRABI YURWANG: Yuma. Dhawura nguna, dhawura Ngunnawal. Hello, my name is Selina Walker and this is Ngunnawal Country. Thank you for coming. And just want to acknowledge my elders, my Ngunnawal elders, and pay respect to my elders past, present, future. Make mention of my grandmother, Auntie Agnes Shea, who was the most senior Ngunnawal elder here, who passed two years ago. And in the spirit of Reconciliation, welcome to Country. So Ngunna yerrabi yanggu, which means you may leave footprints on our land, or in other words, welcome to Country.