CHRIS MITCHELL, HOST: We've been hearing a lot from the Productivity Commission saying government's commitment to the agreement, that closing the gap agreement has been weak, contradictory, uncoordinated, and slow, among other things. Joining us now live on the program, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians. Hello to you and thanks for joining us. It is pretty scathing. What's your reaction.

ADAM STEER, HOST: Senator Malarndirri McCarthy is the ALP senator for the Northern Territory and the Assistant minister for Indigenous Australians. Senator, welcome back to the program. Happy new year.

MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY: Good morning, Adam, and good morning to your listeners. Thanks for having me on.

STEER: The report has shown since introducing Closing the Gap in 2007, little has changed across the priority areas that include health, finance, governance, justice, and education. What's going on? Why is that?

KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Before we get to the Voice and the debate around the points Father Frank made. This really sad, horrific story out of Darwin. And in fact your colleague Linda Burney was there at the hotel when a 51 year old woman came for assistance. She'd been stabbed. She subsequently died. A number of Linda Burney's staff also tried to help. But Minister, it's another reminder, isn't it, of the stark reminder of the violence suffered by Indigenous women.

CO HOST: Australia's close the gap agreement is doomed to fail. In a scathing report, it's accused the federal government of failing to fulfill its promises to indigenous communities. The prime Minister has acknowledged Labor needs to do more. Joining us now from Canberra is Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy. Senator, this report was scathing of the government. Did you put all your eggs in the voice basket and neglect the other things that perhaps needed to be done?

MADELEINE MORRIS: We heard that the Prime Minister thinks that this is a blow to the case. Is it a fatal blow?

MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY: Well, what the Prime Minister was referring to was really the statistical facts that it is difficult to win a referendum. I mean we know that only eight out of 44 have been won in our country. And of course, we've tried to seek bipartisanship from the get go. And so naturally, it's it's very disappointing that Peter Dutton has made the announcement that he has.

PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: Today, the government will release the first Closing the Gap update since Australians voted down a proposal to enshrine an indigenous voice to Parliament in the Constitution. It follows last week's damning Productivity Commission report on closing the gap, which warned the initiative would fail without fundamental change. Two key targets on employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were last year not on track, and today the government has announced it will invest $707 million for new remote jobs program to help turn that part around.

JENNETT: His life in his own way, Yunupingu inspired or advised scores of influential Australians to address Aboriginal disadvantage, not least through the Garma Festival. Among those whose life was touched in many ways by the movement he helped create is Northern Territory Senator and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy. She joins us live from Darwin.

LAURA JAYES, HOST: The Closing the Gap statement is set to be delivered to Parliament later today. Previous reports are anything to go by. The gap between indigenous and non-Indigenous life outcomes is still far from closing. Indigenous youth, employment and education targets are the focus, and today the federal government will announce officially it is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to create 3000 jobs in remote Australia. Joining me live is Assistant minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy. Malarndirri, thanks so much for your time.

MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS, LINDA BURNEY: Thank you all for coming this morning. This is truly history in the making. Today with the introduction of the Constitution Alteration Bill, we are one step closer to making history. One step closer to making history. One step closer to creating a Voice, that makes sure the voices of our people are heard. One step closer to improving lives with a Voice that make a difference. One step closer to moving Australia forward for everyone. This referendum is not about politicians. And it's not about lawyers.

GREG JENNETT, HOST: Jumping back to where we started today, at the centre of the Prime Minister's Closing the Gap statement was the first major new commitment in indigenous affairs since the failed voice referendum. The announcement today was worth more than $700 million. Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy had a lot to do with working it up, and she joined us from Darwin to explain it. Malarndirri McCarthy, you've heard and read the Closing the Gap statements from afar this year, all the way from Darwin. Thank you for joining us.