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.

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: Malarndirri McCarthy we find you not in Canberra in early autumn, but New York in early spring. This comes with the job. I guess you're there leading this Australian delegation. Tell us a little about its work this week.

LIZ TREVASKIS, HOST: Of course, we've been hearing news of flooding throughout the Victoria Daly over the past 36 hours and now rising river levels across the Barkly region. The evacuation of Kalkarindji, Daguragu, Pigeon Hole and Palumpa has resulted in almost 1000 people being evacuated to Katherine before being bused to Darwin to emergency evacuation centres set up at Marrara and the Darwin Showgrounds. Today the Australian Defence Force, the ADF has gotten involved with those evacuations, flying residents out on a massive C-130 Hercules.

GREG JENNETT, HOST: Malarndirri McCarthy Can I take you to Linda Burney's remarks which we've quoted there? "There will be a voice, not to the government but to the parliament". Is there a significance in that construction that she said on the Party Room podcast?