Travelling at 143km/h, GM1 was the first interstate diesel locomotive in Australia. It connected Perth to Sydney and now sits proudly in the Railway Museum in Bassendean.

It was hard to describe to the kids during our summer visit just how big an impact this “Federation train” had on the economy of Western Australia.

In decades past these trains took parliamentarians to Canberra, taking the voice of the west to the east coast-based halls of power.

Today, my job is to take WA's values and turn them into national results.

SENATOR KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR WOMEN: Thanks for coming and Happy New Year. We've got some important changes coming this year for the gender pay gap reporting. So obviously, we've been seeing that gender pay gap start to reduce, but it's not reducing fast enough. At the current rate it's going to take about a quarter of a century for us to reach parity between men and women in the workplace.

EDWINA BARTHOLOMEW, HOST: The Albanese Government is looking to deliver on its election commitment to help close the gender pay gap in Australia. The latest data shows the average weekly gap for ordinary full-time earnings is around 13 per cent. While it is the lowest level ever, the annual difference over the course of a year balloons out to more than $26,000, or 21.7 per cent.

As part of the Government’s plan for A Better, Safer Future for Central Australia we are investing $7.6 million in additional support for women and children experiencing domestic violence and expanding temporary accommodation places.

Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia (WoSSCA) will receive $4.1 million over four years to fund six additional roles for the Central Australia region. 

An additional case manager position will increase the number of women and families that can be supported in Yuendumu, Papunya, Ntaria and Ti Tree. 

Public consultations on how to strengthen the Commonwealth Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) have opened through until 1 March 2024.

Through the Buy Australia Plan, the Albanese Government has committed to providing more opportunities for First Nations Businesses and increasing sustainable employment. Strengthening the IPP will be key to delivering on this commitment.

Since it was introduced in 2015, the IPP has generated over $9 billion in contracts for more than 3,600 Indigenous businesses.

ANDY PARK, HOST: Joining me now on RN Drive is Patrick Gorman, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister. Welcome to you.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE: Thank you, Andy. Good to be here.

OLIVER PETERSON, HOST: This is Perth live with Oliver Peterson eight past five. Joining me on the line now is the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and the Assistant Minister for the Public Service, the Member for Perth, Patrick Gorman. Good afternoon.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE:  Good afternoon, Oly. And good afternoon to your listeners.

The Australian Government proudly endorses Ms Natasha Stott Despoja AO for re-election to the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Ms Stott Despoja was first elected to CEDAW in 2021 and is the first Australian to serve on the Committee in almost 30 years. 

CEDAW—a body of 23 independent experts —monitors the progress of UN member states' efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women.

Graduates of the Australian Public Service Graduate Development Program, it is my great pleasure to share this memorable occasion with you. Congratulations to each and every one of you on successfully completing the APS GDP.

Today marks the end of one journey, and also the start of a new one. As you complete the Program, you consider how to take the skills and knowledge you have learned, and to apply this into the future.

Ask yourselves: how will your newly-acquired capability contribute to policy and programs that will improve the lives of all Australians?

New programs over the summer holiday period will help keep young people healthy and engaged and promote community safety.

This includes a new, targeted, culturally-led diversion program for up to 50 at-risk Aboriginal young people in Alice Springs over the coming months.

These initiatives are part of the continued rollout of the landmark $250 million plan for A Better, Safer Future for Central Australia.