Ballumb Ambul Ngunnawal and Ngambri yindamarra. Ngadu – yirra bang marang.

In the language of my people, the Wiradjuri, I pay my respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people – and honour their custodianship and care for country.

I extend this respect to all First Nations women here tonight.

Thank you Aunty Matilda for your Welcome

I wasn’t able to leave parliament before 630pm

It’s a far cry from when Julia and Julia were in the house

I am delighted to be here on this very special occasion

Thank you Aunty Violet for your warm Welcome.

I acknowledge country and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

I acknowledge the Close the Gap Co-Chairs June Oscar and Karl Briscoe

Selwyn Button - Chair of the Lowitja Institute

And all the members of the Close the Gap Campaign Alliance

Thank you for inviting me to speak this morning

Congratulations on the 2024 Close the Gap report

Celebrating Indigenous excellence and innovation.

And focussing on strengths and successes

ADAM SHIRLEY, HOST: This text from a public servant says, no one I work with is not pulling their weight. We are short-handed and constantly being asked to do more with less. Federal Minister for the Public Service and Finance Minister is ACT Senator Katy Gallagher. Minister, thanks so much for your time. I wonder if that’s a sentiment from many public servants you’re hearing, that no one is not pulling their weight and they are constantly short-handed?

The Albanese Labor Government is proud to contribute $3.5 million to support the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation to honour the remarkable legacy of the late Yankunytjatjara woman and support the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and public sector leaders.

The Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation was established in 2022 with support from the Albanese Government to create pathways for First Nations people to carry forward Dr O’Donoghue’s vision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

The Territory Labor Government is focussed on building more remote homes.

Since 2016 almost 3800 have been built and upgraded, and last week a landmark $4 billion remote housing package was announced.

Ngukurr has been bustling with housing and land development works since 2016, reaching many milestones, with housing construction by Katherine and Darwin based companies NJ Homes, SH Build and WTD Constructions.

Now, Aboriginal Business Enterprise Binjari Community Aboriginal Corporation (BCAC) is renovating and expanding five homes to support the needs of the community.

KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli says the government is paying a heavy price over its failure to tackle the state's youth crime crisis. Let's bring in the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. Thanks for your time. The Opposition Leader in Queensland says it's not federal issues, the results out of Queensland at the weekend. You'd agree with him on that, I guess?

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Joining me now, our regular Friday panel; Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman and New South Wales Liberal Party President Jason Falinski. Gentlemen, thank you both for your time. Why don't we start on an easy topic for you, Pat - the GST. Has there ever been a more blatant exercise in holding on to seats than this?

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR WOMEN: Thank you very much Chair, distinguished guests, friends – and can I start by commending everyone involved in putting this event together today.

Violence against women is an epidemic in Australia. In 2022-23, one woman was killed every eleven days by an intimate partner. This is devastating.

One life lost to violence is one too many.

Our Government is serious about fixing this, and we have set an ambitious target to end violence against women and children in one generation.

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR WOMEN: Thank you very much, Chair. It’s a privilege to be here representing Australia and representing the first majority-woman Federal Government in Australia’s history. Gender equality is a core economic priority for the Australian Government, with women’s economic equality a key focus. To drive this effort the Australian Government has developed our first national strategy to achieve gender equality, which was launched on the eve of International Women’s Day.

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: The International Monetary Fund is urging Australia to continue raising rates, claiming our economy is still running far too hot. I thought the IMF was on 'Mission Impossible'. Now do we care Malarndirri? I also thought that you were going to reduce the cost-of-living pressures.