Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to thank the member for Lingiari for that question but also for the incredibly valuable role that she plays in ensuring that our government remains focused on closing the gap.

As our Prime Minister has said, our government is determined and optimistic about closing the gap for First Nations people. To achieve this, our government is building on what works: listening to First Nations people, partnering with their organisations and investing in community led solutions. I'd like to really recognise the Minister for Indigenous Australians for her work on the 2025 Closing the gap annual report and the 2026 annual implementation plan, which demonstrate our progress and set out a clear agenda for the year ahead.

Our government is delivering jobs and training. We're easing the cost-of-living pressures and making significant new investments in areas such as food security in remote communities, health, housing and education. The Albanese government is delivering more real jobs in remote communities because every Australian deserves the opportunity of the dignity of work and fair pay for the work they do. We have announced that we are doubling the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program from 3,000 to 6,000 jobs. Already 1,500 jobs have been created across the country. We're delivering cost-of-living relief by lifting the cap on our Low-cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme and making it available to all 225 remote stores across Australia, reducing the price of 30 essential grocery items.

Through National Cabinet, governments have agreed on record Commonwealth investment for First Nations health and secured further health investment for states and territories. While building on what works, we're investing in Aboriginal community controlled health services infrastructure. We're supporting birthing on country so that more babies are born at full term, and we're training more First Nations health workers.

The Albanese Labor government are also taking action where we know we need to see more progress. This week, in partnership with First Nations people and all Australian governments, we have launched the first standalone national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander plan to end family, domestic and sexual violence, backed by immediate investment. This has been long advocated for, and I'd like to recognise the work of the Minister for Social Services and Aunty Muriel Bamblett, along with the our way steering committee for making this happen.

Closing the gap requires partnership with First Nations people and action right across government. As the Prime Minister has said, working together, we will succeed in closing the gap and delivering better outcomes for First Nations Australians.

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