GREG JENNETT, HOST: Katy Gallagher, thanks for coming back on Afternoon Briefing on what I expect, like all sitting days, is a busy one for you. On gender pay gap, you're legislating for compulsory reporting of women's pay by employers. This is data that's already collected, it would start next year. So what will change from current practice?

THOMAS ORITI, HOST: Women make up 51 percent of the Australian workforce but still today, women earn on average, around 14 percent less than men each week. The Federal Government will introduce new legislation today, aimed at closing that gender pay gap. The change will see wage gap data for employers with 100 or more workers made public. It'd be published on the Workplace Gender Equality Agency website from next year. Senator Katy Gallagher is the Minister for Women and the Minister for Finance and she joins us now. Senator, good morning, and thank you for your time.

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering on an election commitment to help close the gender pay gap at work.

The Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023 will be introduced into Parliament on Wednesday.

The bill will publish gender pay gaps of employers with 100 or more workers – a key reform to drive transparency and action towards closing the gender pay gap.

The 12-month program offers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians a permanent, full-time, entry level job in government, all while completing a nationally recognised qualification.

Applications are run through Services Australia with opportunities available in a variety of government departments and agencies.

Minister for Government Services Bill Shorten said he is a big supporter of the Indigenous Apprenticeships Program.

Good afternoon and thank you everyone for coming out on a beautiful Canberra Sunday afternoon.

I’d like to begin by paying respect to the ancient Ngunnawal people, upon whose land we gather this afternoon 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. And in that spirit of reconciliation and respect I look forward to working together to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart, including a constitutionally enshrined Voice to our National Parliament.  

GREG JENNETT, HOST: All right, time now for our political panel. And joining us this Monday, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman is back. And Liberal senator and fellow West Australian Linda Reynolds is back too. Welcome to both of you. Patrick Gorman, why don't we start with the major news of the day that happened in this building? Lidia Thorpe defecting from the Greens. What does it mean for the Government's agenda? It's been rather smooth sailing for you in the Senate up to this point.

Today the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Attorney General, the Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians met with the Referendum Engagement Group for the third time.

In opening the meeting, the Minister noted that momentum is building and that significant progress has been made towards a referendum on a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament, to be held later this year.

Today the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Attorney‑General, the Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians met with the Referendum Working Group at Parliament House in Canberra.

The Minister acknowledged the Working Group has a vital role to play in providing advice to Government.

The Albanese Government will today progress its commitment to Australia’s children by launching the first Action Plans under Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children (2021-2031). 

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth and Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney will launch the Action Plans, outlining the actions and activities needed to improve outcomes for children and young people in Australia.

A review into the myGov digital platform has found it is essential to the lives of Australians and is critical national infrastructure like our roads, hospitals and energy grid.

Led by eminent Australian businessman David Thodey AO and a panel of digital, human rights and health experts, the audit found myGov is critical digital infrastructure, with the capacity to deliver world leading government services to Australians.