Today, Commissioner Catherine Holmes AC SC has delivered the Final Report of the Robodebt Royal Commission.

The Royal Commission has found that “Robodebt was a crude and cruel mechanism, neither fair nor legal, and it made many people feel like criminals. In essence, people were traumatised on the off-chance they might owe money. It was a costly failure of public administration, in both human and economic terms” (page xxix, Overview of Robodebt).  

The dedication of the Warla-Warrarn Martu Indigenous Protected Area has today been celebrated, with a ceremony near the remote community of Punmu in the Western Desert in Western Australia.

The ceremony, hosted by Jamukurnu Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation, marks the protection of 2.2 million hectares on the native title lands of the Martu people. This is the equivalent to around a third of the size of Tasmania.

The Australian Government organisation Aboriginal Hostels Limited (AHL) is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney marked the milestone at an event in Canberra last night (Wednesday 5 July 2023).

Aboriginal Hostels Limited plays an important role in First Nations communities, providing a home away from home with safe, affordable and culturally appropriate accommodation.

Since 1973, AHL hostels has supported thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. 

Ballumb Ambul Ngunnawal and Ngambri yindamarra. Ngadu – yirra bang marang.

In the language of my people, the Wiradjuri –

I pay my respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people – 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.

I also want to acknowledge:

The Albanese Government is pleased to announce the Larapinta Trail Tourism Project will receive a $1 million funding package to provide jobs and training for First Nations people, as part of its commitment to A Better, Safer Future for Central Australia.

100% Finke River Culture and Adventures, a First Nations owned and operated tourism enterprise, will deliver training and mentoring to at least 100 local Indigenous people, including Western Arrernte women and men.

The Albanese Government is providing $775,000 in funding over two years to the YothuYindi Foundation to host the Garma Festival, one of the country’s premier cultural events.

The Garma Festival is a world renowned four day event in northeast Arnhem Land, held on the Gumatj Bunggul (dance) ground of Gulkula,

The festival is an important meeting place for the five clan groups and families of the region and draws thousands of visitors from across the country to celebrate Yolngu culture.

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, is proud to congratulate the winners of the 2023 NAIDOC Awards, announced tonight in Brisbane, ahead of NAIDOC Week celebrations taking place around the country from 2-9 July.

The National NAIDOC Committee considered close to two hundred nominations before selecting the talented finalists and finally, the winners of the 2023 Awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award Aunty Dr Naomi Mayers OAM

Assistant Minister Patrick Gorman will travel to Singapore from 2 to 5 July at the invitation of Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, to participate in the S R Nathan Fellowship.

Assistant Minister Gorman’s visit will help to build connections with senior leaders of Singapore as a key regional counterpart, part of Australia’s commitment to strengthening engagement in Southeast Asia.

Introduction

It is a joy, as a West Australian, to find myself speaking to a group of business leaders in Sydney. My wife and I lived in Sydney for a few years, so be assured I am well aware of the stereotypes some Sydneysiders have of the West. Hopefully I will do Australia’s west coast proud on your stage. 

GREG JENNETT, HOST: Patrick Gorman welcome back to the studio. One-on-one today, which is always nice. Now, Simon Crean is a generation or two apart from you, but he did maintain his connections with the current Labor mob. Also in a former life, you were in Kevin Rudd's office. Difficult times, I guess, could I get you to reflect on those contacts? How did you find your dealings with Simon Crean?