Australians are encouraged to have their say on the future of government services through a new online survey.

Responses will inform a Long-term Insights Briefing on The Future of government services: Aligning work with Australian communities.

Most government services and support are centrally designed and provide a universal offering to all citizens and communities, while individual agencies excel at the delivery of standalone services.

The First Nations Reference Group for remote employment programs held its seventh meeting in Sydney today.

The $707 million Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program announced in February 2024, will create 3,000 jobs in remote Australia, to help close the gap in employment outcomes and boost economic opportunities. It will take a community led approach to job creation and complement a new remote employment service, to be implemented in the second half of 2025.

Thanks very much Laura and Jessie for that warm introduction. I really do appreciate it.

I’d also like to pay respects to the Traditional Owners of the land that we’re meeting on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and also acknowledge the very lovely and generous Welcome to Country that was performed earlier.

I would also acknowledge any other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here today, who are leaders in their communities, holders of knowledge and advocates for equality.

JOHN-PAUL JANKE, HOST: You've been elevated into the cabinet as the new Minister for Indigenous Australians, how are you feeling?

MINISTER MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Oh, deeply proud, JP, deeply proud to be a voice for the people of the Northern Territory at the big table, the cabinet table. Deeply proud to be a voice for my own families, the Yanyuwa, Garrwa, Marra and Gudanji peoples of the Gulf region, and incredibly thankful to have been able to get here.

CAM REDDIN, JOURNALIST: First of all Minister, thank you so much for your time. Congratulations on the new role as well. 

MINISTER MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Thank you. It's lovely to be here. 

JOURNALIST: We've heard a lot today about the renewal process from the Voice to parliament referendum. It's one of the themes of the Garma festival this year. How is the healing process going coming up to that first year on from the result?

Today’s landmark signing of a Partnership Commitment by the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments and the Yothu Yindi Foundation is a momentous step towards the Yolngu people’s long held vision for a world class tertiary institution in northeast Arnhem Land.

The Garma Institute Partnership Commitment confirms up to $20 million from the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA) towards construction of a Yolngu-owned and run tertiary and vocational education facility to provide on-Country learning for Yolngu people from early childhood education to university.

40 years ago today, there was seismic change for women. But there's still more to do

1 August 1984 was a day of seismic change for women across Australia.

At a time when women were unlikely to be approved for home loans, faced limited maternity leave provisions, if any, and were able to have their employment legally terminated on account of marital status or falling pregnant — the successful implementation of Labor trailblazer Susan Ryan's Sex Discrimination Act righted many of the wrongs that coloured women's experiences in the workplace and the world.

The Productivity Commission’s latest Closing the Gap data highlights the critical need for more work to be done to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

The latest Annual Data Compilation Report, based on data first released in February, is tracking progress towards the targets and indicators in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The report shows that only five of 19 targets are on track to be met.

ON TRACK

STEWART BRASH, HOST: Well, late last week with the news that Linda Burney was stepping down as the Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, the pundits quickly promoted NT Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy as the front runner to take over the job. Come Sunday, PM Anthony Albanese made the call and Senator McCarthy was duly announced as the holder of one the toughest portfolios in the Federal government.

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Well, we put out the call. We weren't sure where in the world he was. But Jason Falinski is back. Of course, he's joining Labor MP Patrick Gorman. Thank you both for your time. Jason starting with you. Good trip? Happy to be back? It was good? I don't know if you contacted us because you got that special call from Patrick Gorman, who looked down camera four in the end I figured out it was and said, please pick up the phone. You did, pretty effective.