KATE THWAITES, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, AGEING AND WOMEN: The announcement the Albanese Labor Government has made about the investment we are making into women's health is a game changer. The first listing of the pill on the PBS in more than 30 years. Better access to long-acting contraceptives. The first listing of menopause hormone therapy treatments on the PBS in more than 20 years. Longer consults for menopause, training for GPs, a national awareness campaign around menopause, more pelvic pain and endo clinics.

BRIDGET BRENNAN, HOST: The Federal Government will today hand down its annual Closing the Gap report after last year's data showed many targets were going backwards. The Minister for Indigenous Australians is Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, and she joins us now from Parliament House. Hi, Minister, and welcome back to News Breakfast.

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Good morning, Bridget and good morning to all your viewers across the country.

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR WOMEN: It’s great to be here as part of this very significant and historic announcement for women’s health, the package that the Albanese Labor Government has prioritised. It’s about more choices for women, it’s about cheaper access to healthcare and better access to healthcare. That’s what this package is about.

DAVID SPEERS, HOST: Katy Gallagher, welcome to the program.

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR FINANCE: Thanks, David.

SPEERS: So, were you also shocked at Donald Trump’s proposal of a US-owned Gaza?

Subjects:  Closing the Gap, food security in remote communities, Northern Territory Remote Aboriginal Investment.

SARAH ABO, HOST: Big changes are on the way for millions of Aussie women, with proposed access to new contraception, IUD bulk-billing and endometriosis clinics. It’s part of Labor’s half-a-billion-dollar pre-election pledge to women’s health. Joining me now is Minister for Women and Finance, Katy Gallagher, live from Canberra. Minister, a very good morning to you. This move is very welcome, we both know that, and for a lot of women there’s relief that you’ve pledged this crucial funding at along last.

The Albanese and Northern Territory Governments, together with the Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory (APO NT), have signed a landmark Partnership Agreement to strengthen service delivery in remote First Nations communities in the Northern Territory.

The Albanese Government will commit $842.6 million over 6 years to deliver the Northern Territory Remote Aboriginal Investment (NTRAI).

The funding will:

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: We are back for 2025. Welcome back to Parliament for another sitting fortnight. Another opportunity for us to build Australia's future and to talk about the real alternative risks of how people will be worse off under Peter Dutton. And when you are going back to school, or when you are going back to Parliament, you have got to pack your lunch.

A second round of grants is now open for eligible employers to apply for funding to create local jobs in remote communities, as part of the Albanese Labor Government’s new Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program.

Jobs established through the Remote Jobs program will have fair pay and decent conditions, including superannuation, sick leave and annual leave.

In response to community feedback calling for a flexible jobs program, the jobs created can be part-time, full-time or casual and flexible around personal, family and community obligations.

TOM CONNELL, HOST: All this talk of the political year starting early, it doesn't really start until you see the Monday panel of choice. Joining me for their first hit out of 2025, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, and former Liberal MP, Jason Falinski. Thank you both for your time. Just going to start, I'm going to play nice for a question for each of you, just to get you in the mood. Because, you know, I'm always cantankerous at the end of the year.