Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. The Albanese Labor government today released its Closing the Gap annual report and implementation plan. While there is great progress being made, there is still more to do. What steps is the government taking, in partnership with First Nations communities, organisations and state and territory governments, to deliver real change?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank you, Senator Stewart, for your question and for your role and leadership in helping to develop the economic strategy for us. The Albanese Labor government is delivering action and working in partnership with First Nations communities, peak bodies and state and territory governments to close the gap.

One of our key priorities is job creation in remote Australia. We have commenced the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program, which will create up to 3,000 jobs in remote communities over the next three years. We've also expanded the Indigenous Rangers Program, creating 1,000 new jobs, including 770 positions for First Nations women. On housing, we're delivering real action. We've built more than 200 new homes in remote Northern Territory communities, working towards our 10-year goal to halve overcrowding. We're ensuring First Nations children have a strong start in life by expanding the Connected Beginnings program to 50 communities, supporting early childhood development for 20 per cent of First Nations children. Already, over 20,000 students are involved.

Additionally, we are taking action to keep families safe. We've significantly increased funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services and family violence prevention legal services to assist more women and children escaping domestic and family violence, and we've invested in community led justice reinvestment initiatives in 27 sites across the country. The difference our investments are making on the ground is clear and, yes, of course we need to continue to keep going, as we are with the Australian Family Partnership Program in South-East Queensland, where more than 93 per cent of First Nations babies have been born within a healthy birth weight range, beating the target of 91 per cent.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Stewart, first supplementary?

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister, for that response. The Albanese Labor government's report shows that the government is making significant investments in jobs, food security and housing for First Nations communities. What are the key measures our government will deliver in the year ahead to build on our progress and continue closing the gap?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We're continuing to build on our strong foundations, and our focus is on easing cost-of-living pressures in remote communities, strengthening economic empowerment and improving key outcomes for First Nations people. In 2025, we will invest $842 million in essential services in the Northern Territory and end freight costs on 30 essential household items in 76 remote stores, making prices fairer for First Nations remote communities. We are building a nutrition workforce by upskilling 120 local First Nations staff in remote stores and rolling out 12 new laundries in remote communities to improve long-term health outcomes. We are strengthening the Indigenous Procurement Policy to create more opportunities for First Nations businesses, and we're boosting Indigenous Business Australia's home loan capital fund, helping more First Nations Australians buy their own home and build intergenerational wealth. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Stewart, second supplementary?

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is clear that the Albanese Labor government is focused on taking action to improve outcomes for First Nations people so that all Australians have the same opportunities in life. How important is it to have bipartisan support to achieve the goals of Closing the Gap?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's incredibly important. Since I took on the role of minister six months ago, something that has been really important for me, personally as well as professionally, is to continually reach out across the parliament and try to find a common path amongst the different thoughts and different views with which we work together on Closing the Gap. We have all signed up to the agreement. As I said in my statement, the previous Prime Minister had put it to the parliament, along with Ken Wyatt as Indigenous Australians minister, and every single government across the country signed up to it. Every single parliament across the country signed up to it. It is imperative that we do try to work together on this.

I am concerned when I hear those opposite talk about cuts and cuts and cuts and not being able to reveal those until after the next election. Where are those cuts going to be— (Time expired)