Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in Central Australia are invited to apply for funding to support justice reinvestment initiatives under the Albanese Government's $10 million Justice Reinvestment in Central Australia Program.

The Justice Reinvestment in Central Australia Program forms part of the Government's $250 million plan for A Better, Safer Future for Central Australia, with communities in the Central Australian region of the Northern Territory eligible to apply for funding.

AMELIA SEARSON, HOST: Pressure from the cost of living is no stranger these days. I'm sure you've experienced the old going to the shops and you go to pick up some sort of produce, maybe some fresh veggies or some fresh fruit, and you think, I just can't afford to have this at the moment, so you pop it back on the shelf. Well, last week, the Federal Government announced Centrelink payments like JobSeeker, the Age pension, youth allowance, they're going to rise. And that's in an effort to alleviate some of that pressure that so many Australians are feeling at the moment.

TOM CONNELL, HOST: All right, let's get to the political panel as we discuss the COVID inquiry. In particular, plenty of criticism for it, for not being broad enough. Joining me live, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, NSW Liberal Party President Jason Falinski. Gentlemen, thanks both for your time. Pat, we've got this big inquiry that's supposed to tell us everything that we want to avoid doing next time, or we should do the same way, whatever it might be.

The Albanese Government will scope a new First Nations Economic Partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and other organisations to boost labour force participation and improve economic outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

After initial discussions between Treasury and the Coalition of Peaks, scoping work will commence imminently.

A housing project is well underway in Gapuwiyak in East Arnhem Land, which has boosted local employment in the region and changed the lives of those community members involved in the projects.

Gapuwiyak is programmed to receive a total of 38 new homes, with 18 already completed.

Construction works are being delivered alongside the $8 million contract awarded in May 2023 for a 27-lot residential subdivision in Gapuwiyak.

The community has also received extension and refurbishment works to five homes under the Room to Breathe program.

Thank you Dr Len Collard for the wonderful Welcome to Country.

I acknowledge Traditional Owners and Custodians of all of the country and waters across our great land –

I pay my respects to the Whadjuk Noongar people.

Elders past and present.

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

Today I want to talk with you about the upcoming referendum on constitutional recognition through a Voice.

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to Darwin and Alice Springs residents with the opening of two Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCC).

From 1 October, the Palmerston UCC at Palmerston GP Super Clinic will open and the Alice Springs Medicare UCC, to be operated by the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, will open on 1 November 2023.

The Medicare UCC will be open seven days a week and offer walk-in care that is bulk billed for urgent care.

I begin by acknowledging country to the traditional custodians, the Ngunnawal people, upon whose land we gather this afternoon and pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

I pay my respect and acknowledge country at this most important time, just one month away from a national vote about recognition of First Nations people, about listening to First Nations people and about getting better outcomes for First Nations communities across Australia.

So here's to making history on October 14.

I'd like to thank the AIIA for inviting me here today.

The WA Museum is named Boola Bardip.

As we know, that is Nyoongar language for “many stories”.

Already this Museum holds the stories of referendums where WA voted yes, including at Federation.

Western Australians have a chance to add another story to the WA Museum on 14 October.

A new story about the oldest continuing culture and their rightful place in our Constitution.

I am proud to be part the Albanese Government giving Australians the opportunity to vote for Constitutional Recognition through a voice.

LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Good morning everyone and thank you so much for coming along today. Barack Obama said, "If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress." Today, after walking 650 kilometres from Melbourne to Sydney for the second time, I think it's fair to say that Michael Long is a living example that if you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress. Michael, thank you for your decency. Thank you for your strength.