TOM CONNELL, HOST: HELP loans will also not be treated as debt for reporting purposes. We're joining the panel now, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, thank you as ever for your time. So housing, I mean, the supply side is still struggling. Here's another log on the fire of demand that'll do one thing to prices, won't it send them up?

Subjects: Closing the Gap, food security in remote communities, economic empowerment of First Nations communities, Anniversary of the National Apology to Stolen Generations, Northern Territory Government discontinuing treaty process.

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Hi, it's Senator McCarthy here, Minister for Indigenous Australians.

HARRISON PEDERSEN, JOURNALIST: How will Monday's announcement help close the gap?

First Nations arts and language organisations across the country will receive significant funding to support vital cultural practices thanks to the Albanese Labor Government. 

83 First Nations-owned art centres, fairs, regional hubs and industry service organisations will receive a share of more than $38 million in funding over four years through the Government’s Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) program.

The Albanese Labor Government has today updated the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 (ATSI Act) to support greater investment in First Nations businesses and communities.

This reform will give Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) the ability to borrow and raise funds to pursue investment opportunities that drive First Nations economic empowerment.

It will allow IBA to pursue co-investment and partnership opportunities with government and private entities and will deliver benefits that make a real difference to First Nations people.

Subjects: Closing the Gap.

I acknowledge that we come together on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people on this incredibly significant day.

And I acknowledge too the visitors who’ve come to the gallery, in particular the Coalition of Peaks, who are either here in person or watching from around the country.

Today, we table the Closing the Gap Annual Report and Implementation Plan.

And I want to be crystal clear.

The Albanese Labor Government is ambitious for Indigenous Australians. 

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR WOMEN: Thanks very much for coming. It’s great to be here and absolutely fantastic to be here with all of my colleagues across federal Labor to reinforce and promote the big, historic announcement yesterday into women’s health. A whole range of measures that Ged Kearney and her team have been working on for two years now, to make sure that when women raise issues with us, we listen and we respond. And in these areas in women’s health, there was unanimous agreement that not enough had been done.

ROSS SOLLY, HOST: Significant announcement yesterday from the federal government, $573 million to be pumped into women’s health. And you know it’s a good policy because the Liberal party quickly came out and supported it and said yep, we’ll match that. Katy Gallagher is the Minister, she’s also a Labor Senator for the ACT and joins me on the program. Good morning to you, Minister.

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR FINANCE: Good morning, Ross.

The Albanese Labor Government is building Australia’s future, delivering on commitments to First Nations people to help close the gap in partnership with peak bodies, states, territories and local government.

Today, the Government releases the Commonwealth’s 2024 Closing the Gap Annual Report and 2025 Implementation Plan.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: This week, Parliament has important choices ahead of it. Do we continue to build Australia's future? Or do we take the path advocated by the Opposition, that path of going backwards? Back to the good old days of Robodebt, the good old days of secret ministries and the good old days of promises made from the Coalition but never kept.