Introduction

It is an honour to address the first Australian Council of Local Government in a decade. 

Ten years ago this body last met. 

But I want to start my remarks back thirty years ago. 

This week back in 1993, my favourite film about mosquitoes and power outages was released.

Jurassic Park was a film with everything. 

Almost.

Isla Nublar did not have a local government. 

And I think that this is where things went wrong. 

The roads were of poor quality. 

The Albanese Government is delivering on community-led justice reinvestment with early funding for two priority sites - Alice Springs (NT) and Halls Creek (WA).

The October 2022-23 Budget, included $69 million for a National Justice Reinvestment Program, to support 30 community led place-based justice reinvestment initiatives across Australia. This was the largest commitment to justice reinvestment ever delivered by the Commonwealth.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER:  This has been, no doubt, a challenging week. But what the Albanese Government has continued to do is focus on governing. I still believe that this building can achieve big things, and deliver policy that really does improve and change the lives of Australians. That's what we are sent here to do. Every single week. When our communities vote for us, they send us to come here to debate the important issues, and to deliver legislation that lifts up the lives of people and makes those dramatic improvements.

New data released by the Productivity Commission shows there is still a long way to go to Close the Gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.

The results include updates on four of the fifteen Closing the Gap targets, showing two targets as 'on track' and two 'not on track'.

Encouragingly, there has been some progress made in the number of First Nations children enrolled in preschool and fewer First Nations youth in detention.

However, overall it remains just four of the nineteen Closing the Gap targets are "on track".

New data released by the Productivity Commission shows there is still a long way to go to Close the Gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.

The results include updates on four of the fifteen Closing the Gap targets, showing two targets as 'on track' and two 'not on track'.

Encouragingly, there has been some progress made in the number of First Nations children enrolled in preschool and fewer First Nations youth in detention.

However, overall it remains just four of the nineteen Closing the Gap targets are "on track".

The Albanese Government is taking the next steps in rebuilding the Australian Public Service by introducing a bill to amend the Public Service Act 1999.

Millions of Australians interact with the APS every day – speaking to Centrelink on the phone for support, receiving subsidised medicines through the PBS or applying for a passport. 

The Minister for the Public Service, Senator Katy Gallagher, said the Albanese Government is delivering on its promise to build a stronger public service after a decade of neglect under the Coalition.

The Albanese Government is taking the next steps in rebuilding the Australian Public Service by introducing a bill to amend the Public Service Act 1999.

Millions of Australians interact with the APS every day – speaking to Centrelink on the phone for support, receiving subsidised medicines through the PBS or applying for a passport. 

The Minister for the Public Service, Senator Katy Gallagher, said the Albanese Government is delivering on its promise to build a stronger public service after a decade of neglect under the Coalition.

NADIA MITSOPOULOS, HOST: The Make it 16 campaign has been launched in Canberra today, which is why we're talking about this today. And I know this is an issue that crops up from time to time. Now, I'm wondering what politicians think about this, because of course, they'd be directly affected by this change. Would they vote for this anyway, in the Parliament? Part of me thinks probably not. But I want to ask Patrick Gorman, who is the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and is, of course, the Member for Perth. Are you a 'yes' or a 'no' on this, Patrick?

I want to begin today by acknowledging Bagala clan of the Jawoyn People – 

The traditional custodians of the land on which we gather today, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. 

And I acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people gathered here from all points of the southern sky.

It is an honour to speak at a place of such historic significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – 

To do so at a defining moment in our country’s history makes today even more special.

Construction of the Larrakia Cultural Centre in Darwin is a step closer to starting with a $56 million grant from the Aboriginal Benefits Account (ABA) to the Larrakia Development Corporation (LDC).

The iconic project will see a culturally significant site built in the heart of Darwin at the Stokes Hill Waterfront Precinct with construction expected to begin later this year and be completed in 2025.