The Albanese Labor Government is continuing to support First Nations cultural expression by investing more than $5.1 million in community-based organisations delivering vital languages and arts activities around the country.

44 organisations will share in the funding from 2023-24, which is being delivered through the Government’s Indigenous Languages and Arts program. 

HOST, TIM WONG-SEE: The Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney is traveling around WA in the lead up to the referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. Now lots has been said about it. You might be seeing more ads from the Yes and No side in the paper, on TV, on social media, here on the radio. But has it helped you make up your mind on how you’ll vote? Maybe you already know which box you're going to tick come the end of the year? Well, hopefully we can try and answer some of your questions this morning.

ANDREW CLENNELL, HOST: Joining me live is the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman from Perth. Patrick Gorman, thanks for joining me. You're out doorknocking for the Yes campaign at the moment with Dean Parkin who leads the Yes campaign. What's the reception like?

DAVID SPEERS, INSIDERS HOST: Linda Burney, welcome to the program. 

LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Thanks, David 

DAVID SPEERS: So you've listed four priority areas you would like the Voice to focus on, but won't it be up to the Voice to decide for itself what it wants to pursue?

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.