TOM CONNELL, HOST: Budget Week. Who better to break it all down for us and give us the scoop on what's really happening? The Assistant Minister to the The Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. In other words, man who knows everything about what's about to unfold. And the former Liberal MP Jason Falinski, who, according to himself, knows absolutely nothing. Gentlemen, thank you both for your time, as ever. Patrick, why don't we start with you? How would you sum up this Budget? Because I've done some rough calculations.

We have just heard, in one speech, every bit of disinformation and misinformation and scare campaigns that exist in this debate.

I am very pleased that politicians can step out of this after this debate on the alteration bill.

Because the one thing, I agreed with in terms of the Leader of the Opposition, is this is not a decision or a play thing of politicians.

It is a decision of the Australians people.

Almost 56 years ago to the day –

Australians voted in the 1967 referendum.

It was a major turning point in the Australian story.

The West Australian 
Monday 22 May 2023

One year ago I was walking around in the dark, on the green at the Mt Lawley Bowling Club, staring at my phone.

It was hard to believe the data I was seeing from our Labor team. Labor had campaigned well in the West, but the support from the people of WA was like nothing since Bob Hawke was prime minister. The Liberals had taken our State for granted for too long.

Eastern States colleagues were calling and texting to ask if WA would come through with enough seats for Labor.

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.