Acknowledgements

Good afternoon, everyone.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet — the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation — and I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Thank you to Aunty May McGuire for that beautiful welcome to country.

Thank you, Jasmyn and the team at Orana for inviting me to be part of the Conversation that Matters here at The Rise.

There are some special guests with us today that I would also like to acknowledge:

I am here to thank each of you as risk management professionals.

Public servants who give Australia a safer, more certain world.

It is my pleasure to celebrate these awards with you today at this iconic venue in our Nation’s Capital.

Stepping onto the stage at the National Press Club comes with great risk.

This Club is now 60 years old.

Starting as a lunch club.

And before too long the journalists got bored of grilled food.

They moved on to grilling politicians.

The Albanese Government has today released the second annual report outlining findings from the 2022-23 Survey of Trust in Australian public services.

Delivering on our commitment to annually release this report publicly for increased transparency and trust in our Australian Public Service.

Key findings from the Survey include:

From Ntaria (Hermannsburg) in the south to Milikapiti in the north, homes continue to be handed over in remote communities.

The Territory Labor Government has delivered 1278 new remote homes, including over 800 homes completed under the Remote Housing Investment Package, plus upgrades to close to 1700 homes under all remote housing programs since September 2016.

In the latest handover on Monday, three homes - a four-bedroom and two five-bedrooms - were finalised in the Central Australian community of Ntaria and are now easing overcrowding in the community.

The Commonwealth Minister for Indigenous Australians and Ministers responsible for Indigenous Affairs from all States and Territories met today via videoconference. Ministers reaffirmed their support for listening and working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to improve the lives of Indigenous people.

Ministers acknowledged that many First Nations Australians were disappointed by the referendum result on 14th October.

ADAM SHIRLEY, HOST: Patrick Gorman, is a Labor MP and Assistant Minister for the Public Service and is with us this morning. Patrick Gorman, a very good morning to you.

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

SHIRLEY: Assistant Minister, through your time in any public service role, how often have you come across or witnessed racism?

On Friday 10 November 2023, Senior Warlpiri Men and AIATSIS staff gathered at the South Australian Museum to welcome home a collection of sacred objects from the USA. The return of this material was a collaboration between AIATSIS and the Warlpiri Project, a Warlpiri created and led project which works to help Warlpiri repatriate ancestors and objects. 

Warlpiri Elders and emerging leaders said: 

The Albanese Government is today releasing a consultation paper to inform the development of Australia’s First Nations Clean Energy Strategy.

This paper builds on a series six roundtables held with First Nations communities over past eight months as well as input from the First Nations Clean Energy and Emissions Reduction Advisory Committee.

The Strategy, developed in conjunction with Indigenous Australians, is formulated to drive investment, cooperation and lasting benefits for Indigenous communities across the country.

It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of Dr Bush-Blanasi.

A giant of the Top End, an inspiring leader and a fighter for Aboriginal Land Rights, Northern Land Council Chairman and 2023 NT Australian of the Year.

Dr Bush-Blanasi was a proud Mayili and Yolŋu man, raised in the Wugularr community (Beswick) of Roper Gulf.

His mother, a Yolŋu woman from Blue Mud Bay in Arnhem Land, was a claimant in the historic 2008 Blue Mud Bay case which determined 85 per cent of the Northern Territory’s coastline belonged to Traditional Owners.

It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of Dr Bush-Blanasi.

A giant of the Top End, an inspiring leader and a fighter for Aboriginal Land Rights, Northern Land Council Chairman and 2023 NT Australian of the Year.

Dr Bush-Blanasi was a proud Mayili and Yolŋu man, raised in the Wugularr community (Beswick) of Roper Gulf.

His mother, a Yolŋu woman from Blue Mud Bay in Arnhem Land, was a claimant in the historic 2008 Blue Mud Bay case which determined 85 per cent of the Northern Territory’s coastline belonged to Traditional Owners.