With the announcement of the 2025 federal election, the caretaker period is now in effect.

In accordance with the caretaker conventions, new material, including transcripts and media releases, may not be available on this site. This information is usually available on the Australian Labor Party website, which is not maintained or funded by the Commonwealth of Australia.

State of the Service Roadshow Canberra - opening address

It is my great pleasure to be with you for the State of the Service Roadshow in Canberra. Last week, we launched the roadshow in Perth. We had representatives from over 58 Australian Public Service agencies.

Today, staff from at least 79 agencies are joining us. And a special welcome to those joining us online across the country.

The forerunners to our current State of the Service Report stretch all the way back to Federation. Public Service Commissioner, Mr Duncan Clark or DC McLachlan was appointed in May 1902 and served until his retirement in May 1916.

Integrity and transparency key to functioning public service

The most entrenched problems in public policy and democracy can take very little time to create.

They might start with someone secretly swearing themselves into a portfolio or five.

Or a significant Centrelink debt being automatically, incorrectly created.

Or deciding that a high-risk government contract should be awarded without due diligence.

Or even deciding that a certain piece of public service work could just as easily be done by a contractor, rather than a public servant.

TV interview - Sky News First Edition

PETER STEFANOVIC, HOST: Well, there's been another slump in support for the voice to Parliament, according to the latest Newspoll data that's out this morning. Let's go to Canberra. Joining us live is the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy. Malarndirri, good to see you. Thanks for your time this morning. Yeah. Just on this new polling out now below 50% in every state. Is that a hard dose of reality after Garma? 

TV interview - ABC News Breakfast

MICHAEL ROWLAND, HOST: Now, the Garma Festival enters its last day today as one of the country's biggest gathering on indigenous culture and politics. Over the weekend, the festival outlined how the voice to Parliament would work with young Indigenous people, focusing on how the decision, if the referendum passes, will affect them. The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, revealed the referendum will take place this year, firmly rejecting calls to either delay or even cancel it.

TV interview - ABC News afternoon briefing

GREG JENNETT, HOST: Malarndirri McCarthy, always good to have you back on the program. Feels like a while with the winter break having just ended this week, you'll be heading back to the Garma Festival this weekend, a year after the Prime Minister laid down what was the essence of the proposal for the voice to Parliament referendum. We don't expect any date. In fact, we know we won't get a date from him this weekend. But should we expect him to put up further details about what will and won't be handled by the Voice? 

TV interview - Today Show news chat

SARAH ABO, HOST: The prime minister has been accused of struggling to answer basic questions on a treaty with concerns support for his voice campaign is on the rocks... There seems to be a bit of confusion out there and the PM isn't providing much clarity. Even he seems to be getting a bit frustrated there's a lack of momentum around his campaign. What's the vibe like? 

TV interview - Sky News with Andrew Clennell

ANDREW CLENNELL, HOST: Joining me now from Darwin is the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy. Thanks so much for your time, Minister. Can I ask first about just this Greg Craven matter? What's your view of this in terms of the No pamphlet? Is it a bit of a storm in the tea cup in respect to the fact they have said he's a voice supporter and these are his actual words that they've quoted, they haven't dated it, but he did say this. 

TV interview - 10 News First

NAREDLA JACOBS, HOST: The yes and no cases for the voice of referendum have been published by the Australian Electoral Commission. The 2000 word pamphlets have been prepared by advocates on each side. And joining us now from Darwin is Senator Malarndirri McCarthy. Welcome to you, Senator. The Yes pamphlet has a subheading key facts. Now, you would have read the No pamphlet. Is that campaign also running on facts? 

Television interview - Sky News Afternoon Agenda with Tom Connell

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Welcome back. Well, sad news today for Australian politics and Labor Party. Senator Linda White has died after a battle with an illness that was, well, her leave, her medical leave only starting in February. Joining me now is Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. Thank you for your time. It has been sad news. She wasn't a Senator for long, but part of the Labor movement for quite a long time.