PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Over the last week, the Albanese Government has been focused on things that make a real difference to the Australian people. Cutting their student debt, making sure that our child care centres are safer and ensuring that we protect penalty rates that 2.6 million Australians rely upon.

Subjects: One Nation Senators turning their backs on an Acknowledgement of Country in the Senate, Welcome to Country, Federal Court decision, Northern Territory Coroner findings, truth telling.

PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: Minister, welcome to the programme.

MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Thank you, Patricia. Good to be here in person.

The Albanese Government has refreshed the membership of the Northern Australia Indigenous Reference Group (IRG), which is a key advisory body on boosting economic and social prosperity for First Nations people across the north.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor of James Cook University, Professor Martin Nakata, has been appointed the new IRG chair. Professor Nakata has more than 30 years of experience in Indigenous education, research and community engagement.

Other new appointments are:

BRANSEN GIBSON, HOST: Government MP, Patrick Gorman, is the member for Perth. He is also the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister. Patrick, good morning. 

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

GIBSON: Patrick, let's start with student debt. Why is student debt - reducing student debt, pardon me - a priority for the government? 

PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: Let's start with some breaking news from the government this afternoon. Labor will keep former leader Mark Latham's photo on its caucus wall, but add these words:

“In 2017 Mark Latham was expelled from the Australian Labor Party and banned for life. His actions do not accord with Labor values and fail to meet the standards we expect and demand.”

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Alright, we've got Parliament back tomorrow, but we've got the panel that everybody waits for today, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, here in the studio with me, and former Liberal MP, Jason Falinski as well, joining us. Thanks both for your time. How do you feel coming back, Pat? Is it sort of you've always got excitement, enthusiasm, but you've been back here a few times. Is there any element of 'oh, getting back on the plane from sunny Perth and trudging back to Canberra?'

Today the Federal Court has handed down a decision in the case of Pabai Pabai & Anor v Commonwealth.

Beginning in 2021 during the former Morrison Liberal Government, this class action alleged that the Commonwealth breached a duty of care to protect Torres Strait Islanders, their environment and traditional way of life from the current and projected impacts of climate change.

Unlike the former Liberal Government, we understand that the Torres Strait Islands are vulnerable to climate change, and many are already feeling the impacts.

The Albanese Labor Government has announced the latest initiative as part of the largest commitment to justice reinvestment ever delivered by the Commonwealth.

Central Australian Youth Link-Up Service (CAYLUS) will deliver Mampu-Maninjaku, a community-led crime prevention, alcohol and drug counselling, and diversion program.

This is the second initiative funded under the Justice Reinvestment in Central Australia Program and was selected following a rigorous assessment process undertaken by an independent panel.

The Australian and Northern Territory Governments are continuing to deliver on a shared commitment to improve housing for First Nations people in remote communities.

Under the historic $4 billion housing agreement, up to 2,700 new homes will be built over the next 10 years to reduce overcrowding and improve living conditions across 73 communities and 27 town camps.

ATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: I want to bring in my political panel for today. Aaron Violi, is a Liberal MP for Casey. Patrick Gorman, Assistant Minister for Employment, and joins us now from Perth. Welcome to both of you. We're waiting for the Prime Minister, but let's just reflect, if we can for a moment on what is really a historic trip in many ways. Aaron, your side of politics has been a little critical, talking about needing to raise concerns too. But the Prime Minister has consistently said he will have those difficult conversations.