PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: A fourteen-month inquiry into the Big 4 consulting firms in Australia brought to light some pretty shocking revelations about how they were taking the government and taxpayers for a pretty big ride. It also highlighted just how the dependent the Public Service was on external consultants. The report makes 12 recommendations, putting the ball in the government’s court to crack down further on the industry. But the Greens say it doesn’t go far enough. Katy Gallagher is the Minister for Finance and Women, she joins us on the program this morning.

ROGER COOK, PREMIER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA: It's great to be here. And I'd like to thank our friends at Volgren Australia for welcoming us and showing us around the workshop.

The Albanese government has made another major commitment to women's sport and the Matildas, contributing to the shared cost of hosting the AFC Women's Asian Cup on home soil in 2026.

The government's $15 million investment will help ensure the tournament is a success and build upon the Matildas sport changing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup performance while increasing opportunities for women's football in Australia and across our region.

The First Nations Reference Group for the Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program held its fifth meeting today in Sydney.

The $707 million Remote Jobs and Economic Development program announced in February 2024, will create 3,000 jobs in remote Australia, to help close the gap in employment outcomes, boost economic opportunities and invest in cultural authority.

KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Emergency responders, volunteers and support workers who were on the frontline of the February-March 2022 flooding disaster will become eligible for formal recognition. The National Emergency Medal recognises the efforts and sacrifice of those who respond to nationally significant events. The Governor-General has agreed to declare the 2022 floods, which devastated much of northern New South Wales and southeast Queensland, an emergency event so responders can be commended.

ANIKA WELLS, MINISTER FOR AGED CARE AND MINISTER FOR SPORT: I'll begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the lands on which we gather this morning the Turrbal and Jagera people. Together, we stand on the shoulders of 1600 generations of First Nations people and that is our shared history. I am welcoming Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman, to the magical kingdom of Lilley this morning for a very special announcement about the National Emergency Medal.

Frontline emergency responders, volunteers and community support workers involved in the February/March 2022 flood events in northern New South Wales and south east Queensland may now be eligible for the National Emergency Medal.

The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) agreed to a recommendation from the Government that the floods be declared a nationally significant emergency for the purposes of the medal.

The Albanese Government has committed up to $19.995 million for Western Australia as part of a joint effort to contain and eradicate the current outbreak of Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borers (PSHB).

The State Government has also invested $4.7 million to the national response, which is being driven by more than 160 full time local employees.

PSHB (Euwallacea fornicatus) are tiny beetles that bore into living trees where they deposit a fungus which disrupts the flow of water and nutrients, leading to the plant’s death.

The Australian Government congratulates Ms Natasha Stott Despoja AO on her re-election to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

The committee is made up of 23 independent human right experts from around the world that monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Joining me now Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman, who's sadly not with Jason Falinski this week, he's in the US. We decided didn't we Patrick that getting him on at midnight or a bit later might be dangerous for Jason, meanwhile –