Every Australian of the Year is different. In fact, the current trophy design for the state and national awards features glass with many facets, to reflect the ‘multi facets of Australian society'. In just a few days, nominations for the next recipients will close.

Since its inception in 1960, the Australian of the Year Awards have provided a place to recognise outstanding achievement through the stories of incredible Australians. Stories from all corners of our nation and from all walks of life.

As World Ranger Day is celebrated around the world today, the Albanese Labor Government is proud to announce we are on track to double the number of Indigenous Rangers by 2030.

Our $1.3 billion Indigenous Ranger Program funding commitment will expand the number of Indigenous rangers from 1,900 to 3,800 by 2030, while supporting more women to become rangers.

For 65,000 years, First Nations people have been custodians and caretakers of Australia’s flora and fauna, land, rivers and sea.

Thank you very much for that introduction and can I also begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet.

To my Ministerial colleagues – Senator Wong, Minister Wells, Senator Watt, to Ambassador Rudd, to the Premier and your Ministers, to our ministers and friends from right around the world and your delegations – friends, it’s lovely to be with you here this morning and have to the opportunity to make a few remarks.

The Albanese Labor Government is investing $14.5 million to establish ten new Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs), to better protect and conserve more of Australia’s land and sea.

IPAs are a proud homegrown success story. IPAs are areas of land and sea Country managed by First Nations groups which also deliver positive environmental outcomes for the benefit of all Australians.

They now cover 87 million hectares of Australia’s land and over 5 million hectares of sea country – which is the majority of Australia’s national estate.

Introduction

When I spoke at the WA Tourism Conference last year, I said our tourism industry sells the best of Australia. 
It is led by some of the best entrepreneurs and most passionate people in our country. 
It is wonderful to see many of you here.

The latest Gender Gap Report from the World Economic Forum shows that since the Albanese Labor Government took office, Australia’s world gender equality ranking has jumped up 17 places from 43rd to 26th – the largest increase since the index began in 2006.

At the election, Labor promised to make Australia a world leader on gender equality after a decade of stalled progress under the former Coalition Government. 

This result shows just how serious the Albanese Government is about delivering on this promise and improving the lives of women across the country.

The Albanese Government’s First Nations Digital Inclusion Plan released today outlines for the first time clear priorities to close the digital gap for First Nations Australians.

The Plan provides a framework for delivering Target 17 of Closing the Gap – the elimination of digital inequality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians – by identifying priority actions for Government, community and industry to deliver reliable and affordable telecommunications services and appropriate consumer training.

Ballumb Ambul Gadigal yindamarra. Ngadu – yirra bang marang.

In the language of my people, the Wiradjuri

I pay my respects to the Gadigal of the Eora Nation – and honour their custodianship and care for Country.

And I extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here from all points of the southern sky.

Thank you Yvonne Weldon for the warm Welcome to Country.

To Lord Mayor, Clover Moore -

Thank you for your commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

SARAH FERGUSON, HOST: Katy Gallagher, welcome to 7.30

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR FINANCE: Thanks for having me on, Sarah.

FERGUSON: The incoming Governor of the Reserve Bank, Michele Bullock, says that unemployment would have to rise to 4.5 percent for inflation to come down. Is the possible loss of 150,000 jobs the price we have to pay to achieve that?

The Albanese Government is taking action to turn the tide on the appalling rates of incarceration and deaths in custody of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians by delivering on our commitment to establish real-time reporting.

It has been 32 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, yet the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people dying in prisons and police custody remains a national shame.