MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Thank you for joining us this afternoon. I'd like to acknowledge that we come together on the lands of the Ngunnawal people and we pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging. A pretty special day, and I am joined by the Coalition of Peaks, with Scott Wilson and Catherine Liddle, and we acknowledge Pat Turner, who has worked consistently as my Co-Chair on the Joint Council, for the Coalition of Peaks in Closing the Gap.

Subjects: Closing the Gap 

Subjects: Closing the Gap

BRIDGET BRENNAN, HOST: The Government says it’s not contemplating failure on Closing the Gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, despite the deadline being just five years away. The annual report card will be handed down in the federal parliament today and the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, joins us now. Minister, great to talk to you.

MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS:: Good morning, Bridget

Subjects: Closing the Gap

REBECCA WHITE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING: The Australian Labor Government is very serious about eliminating gendered violence in our community, and I’m pleased today to launch the evaluation report. It’s a program that we have been delivering through our Primary Health Networks in every state and territory across the country.

The Albanese Government is continuing to deliver on its Closing the Gap commitments by working with First Nations partners, represented by the Coalition of Peaks, to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The release of the Commonwealth’s 2025 Closing the Gap Annual Report and 2026 Implementation Plan shows the progress made over the past year and outlines our strategy for the year ahead.

KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: With me live in the studio is the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. Thanks for your time.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, Kieran.

GILBERT: Your leader, Mr. Albanese, is adamant this is the right call and that he is a welcome guest to this country?

The Albanese Government is investing $22.7 million to extend a national pilot program supporting general practices to identify, support and refer victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV).

The decision to extend the Supporting Primary Care Response to Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Pilot follows an interim evaluation report showing the program is strengthening responses in primary care and increasing referrals to specialist FDSV services.

Can I firstly thank Aunty Violet. Not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for walking here on your Country, and my heart is extremely grateful to you and your families for your welcome, always.

Today’s pretty special. So many people have been involved with this National Plan, and I’m so conscious that now we have the National Plan, it’s about what we do next. 

To each and every one of you who have been involved, a sincere thanks. 

Today, the Albanese Labor Government is launching Australia’s first standalone plan that strives for a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children can live free from violence.