MICHELLE STANLEY, HOST: You might have heard in the headlines, The Future Made in Australia Act. It's just been introduced in Parliament. It's been billed as the federal government's big plan to revolutionise the manufacturing and renewable energy industries, using taxpayer funded incentives to entice investment. That how will it all work? Patrick Gorman is the Assistant Minister to the PM and the Member for Perth. Good morning, Patrick.
Young people from remote areas of the Torres Strait will have better access to school thanks to extended and improved boarding facilities on Thursday Island providing a quality option for on-Country learning for students from the Torres Strait Islands.
The Australian Government is providing $4.7 million to on-Country boarding home Torres Strait Kaziw Meta. The money will improve the quality and capacity of boarding facilities for secondary students in the region, and keep them closer to home.
KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Welcome back to the programme. Joining me live in the studios, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Pat Gorman, what do you make of the criticism of Mr. Albanese for not going to NATO?
THE HON AMANDA RISHWORTH MP, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: Well, it's been really wonderful this morning to be here, having a great play with some new babies and parents and it's been wonderful to be joined also by Minister Gallagher and of course, Steph, Kurt, and little Billy. Because we know that the arrival of a new baby can be sometimes a very exciting but also stressful occasion. We know that many parents need to take a step back from paid work, and that's why our expansion of Paid Parental Leave to 22 weeks, increasing to 26 weeks, is so important.
ROBBIE VON, HOST: G'day Patrick, how are you today, mate?
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE: G'day Robbie, I'm pretty good on a cold Canberra morning. G'day to your listeners, too.
VON: Beautiful mate. What is happening in your neck of the woods today?
Australia’s Government Paid Parental Leave has been expanded by two weeks as we progress towards 26 weeks in 2026.
From July 1, parents will receive 22 weeks of Paid Parental Leave, up from 20 weeks, resulting in more support as parents take time out of work to care for their newborn.
The scheme will continue to expand each year until the Government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme reaches 26 weeks in July 2026. When fully rolled out to 26 weeks, families will receive around $24,000 in government-funded parental leave.
The Youpla Support Program phone line, designed to support First Nations people impacted by the collapse of funeral insurance provider the Youpla Group, is open for incoming calls from today.
The Youpla Group, also known as the Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund (ACBF), sold funeral insurance policies to First Nations people. When they collapsed in 2022, many people could no longer pay for funeral expenses and conduct Sorry Business.
89 First Nations-owned art centres, art fairs, regional hubs and industry service organisations across the country will receive a share of more than $21 million in funding through the Albanese Labor Government’s Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support Program.
The program supports a professional, viable and ethical First Nations arts industry - enabling artists to create, earn income, develop professional skills and connect to the art market.
There has never been a year quite like this one. A psephologist’s democratic dream.
In 2024, up to four billion people worldwide will have the opportunity to vote. Of course, political choice is much freer in some countries than others.
There are pantomime democracies. Democracies under threat. And I hope there are new democracies to emerge in the years ahead.
Of the many reasons to be proud of our country is our rich and stable democratic traditions. Australia has been a global champion for democracy.
Boarding providers are invited to apply for grants under the Australian Government’s Central Australia Boarding Response Fund to increase access to quality education for students from remote Northern Territory communities.
Funding is available for capital works projects in Central Australia to improve existing boarding facilities and build new ones to create additional places for First Nations young people who need to study away from home.