The Australian Government will launch a new information program, encouraging Australians to get ready for the conversation about the referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through establishing a Voice in the Constitution.

The information program will provide Australians with factual information about the referendum proposal to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice and point them to Voice.gov.au where they can learn more.

The Australian Government is committing $45.1 million to invest in housing on Aboriginal Land in Wreck Bay Village in the Jervis Bay Territory as part of the 2023-24 Budget’s $1.9 billion investment in initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.

This investment will support a capital works program to fix the disrepair of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council’s residential housing stock. This builds on our investment of $5 million in 2022.

SHARRI MARKSON, HOST: I want to bring in my political panel this evening; Nationals Senate Leader, Bridget McKenzie, and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. Welcome to you both. Look, let's start with the big news today that Joe Biden has had to cancel his trip to Australia to deal with this debt ceiling crisis. I don't want to ask about your disappointment that the Quad has been cancelled.

Thank you for asking me to speak tonight. 

I’d like to begin by paying respect to the ancient Ngunnawal people, upon whose land we gather this evening and I thank them for their custodianship and care for this beautiful country. And I extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders here tonight. And I genuinely look forward to the opportunity later this year through a national vote that will bring our country together to proudly enshrine recognition of Australia’s first people the Constitution and to establish a voice to our nation's parliament. 

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

In the language of my people – I pay my respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people – and honour their custodianship and care for country.

I extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here today.

Thank you Aunty Matilda House for the warm Welcome to Country.

I also acknowledge:

Australian women are front and centre in Labor's second Budget with the most significant single year investment in women's equality in at least the last 40 years.

At the election, Labor committed to improve the lives of women as a priority for the nation and this Budget demonstrates how serious the Albanese Government is about delivering on that commitment.

Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, said that the Albanese Labor Government was delivering on its promises to Australian women. 

The Albanese Government is working together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to make a practical difference, help close the gap and deliver a better future.

This is the Albanese Labor Government's commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians – the beginning of a new chapter that will make our nation proud.

The Albanese Government is working together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to make a practical difference, help close the gap and deliver a better future.

This is the Albanese Labor Government's commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians – the beginning of a new chapter that will make our nation proud.

Ending violence against women and children is a national priority. The Albanese Labor Government is funding a range of new initiatives through this Budget to help deliver the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.

The Australian Government and Northern Territory Government are working together to deliver the next stage of the $250 million landmark plan for a Better, Safer Future for Central Australia to improve community safety, tackle alcohol-related harm, and provide more opportunities for young people.

Working closely with the Office of the Central Australia Regional Controller (OCARC), Central Australian communities made it clear they want to be more involved in decision making that affects them.