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

Your great state. You're absolutely right, our remote communities remain particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and their recoveries can take longer. Last week, I was welcomed onto beautiful Eastern Kuku Yalanji country at Wujal Wujal, in Senator Mulholland's state of Queensland. As they say, it's a place so nice, they say the name twice, Wujal Wujal. I was privileged to receive a water blessing from Aunty Kathleen at the foot of the spiritual waters of Wujal Wujal Falls.

The scars of Cyclone Jasper have left deep physical marks on this community, but the impact is not just physical. Elders speak of the fear they feel when they hear heavy rain, remembering the devastation they endured and the challenge of rebuilding their community. But the Albanese Labor government is there to support them and to back their aspirations, and that includes jobs, jobs, jobs. We are delivering 6,000 jobs in remote communities, providing the dignity of work with proper pay, sick leave, annual leave and superannuation, and that includes in the community of Wujal Wujal. I visited the nursery and market garden where local RJED workers are already benefiting from these opportunities. One of those workers, Topsy, said to me: 'I love gardening. I always go home at the end of the day with a smile on my face, telling my family what I've done.' The Albanese Labor government is strengthening our remote communities by providing the dignity of work, and Wujal Wujal is just one of many examples of the success of the program.