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.

MATT DORAN, HOST: From today, the Federal Government's tripling the bulk billing incentive for GP's when they treat children under the age of 16, pensioners and other Commonwealth concession card holders. The boost was announced in the Federal Government's budget earlier this year. Joining us live from Darwin is the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Health, Malarndirri McCarthy. Very good afternoon to you, Senator. Appreciate you making the time for us. These bulk billing changes, can you explain how they will actually work?

PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: There is no escaping the resounding and clear decision by Australian voters as a whole to renounce the Indigenous voice to Parliament. But a more forensic look at polling booths shows there was strong support for the voice in some Indigenous remote communities, particularly in those regional and remote areas, as I say. Malarndirri McCarthy is the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and a Senator in the Northern Territory. She joins me now. Welcome back to the program.

“Your son’s legs need to be amputated if you want him to walk,” the medical specialist said to me.

At 23 years of age, I looked down at my firstborn son, sleeping peacefully in my arms. He was only two weeks old and yet had travelled hundreds of thousands of kilometres to the nearest specialist to diagnose his condition. Such a long way from the lands of the Yanyuwa people in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

SENATOR MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY: Firstly, can I just say thank you to all for being here, I'd like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land. It's such an absolute pleasure to have come from the Northern Territory to be here in Melbourne, but to be in Victoria, you know, we've got a pretty exciting day ahead. And I know you've just had an amazing weekend in football here and I'm sure people are still recovering from that.

PETER STEFANOVIC, HOST: Well, less than two weeks out from the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, pre polling begins today for half the nation. The rest tomorrow, public holiday in place you see. Well, joining us live, the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy. Malarndirri, good to see you. Thanks for your time this morning. So, yeah, it is a big day for several states of this referendum. Tomorrow for the rest.

TOM CONNELL, HOST: With just 23 days to go now until the voice referendum, it has been a slightly better week for the Yes campaign in terms of some of the headlines they've been getting following major rallies over the weekend. Let's bring in the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy who joins me live from Adelaide. Thanks for your time. Does it feel like sort of the first positive week in terms of media response, in particular for The Voice for a while?

The Assistant Minister for the Public Service, the Hon Patrick Gorman MP, will today launch the Trust and Satisfaction in Australian Democracy Survey Report.

Australia signed the Luxembourg Declaration on Building Trust and Reinforcing Democracy in November 2022.

The Australian Public Service Commission then launched a survey in June 2023 to deepen the understanding of public sentiment towards democracy.

A nationally representative sample of 6000 people participated in the Survey and helped paint a picture of democracy in Australia.

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Senator, thanks for your time. We've gone from the sort of theoretical to the practical on the debate over The Voice, and Linda Burney outlined a couple of examples of what she thinks the voice could do. What's an example of a policy fix you think the voice would be well-placed to do?