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Sky News AU
02-08-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Anthony Albanese announces $75 million for ‘long-term prosperity' as part of Indigenous economic plan in keynote Garma address
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged $75 million in new funding to support Native Title holders, as he laid out his government's Indigenous economic agenda in a landmark speech at the Garma Festival in East Arnhem Land. Addressing a large crowd on Saturday, it was Albanese's fourth visit to Garma as Prime Minister. 'We must end the stalemate that arises when native title organisations with little in the way of back of house or legal or commercial expertise are expected to negotiate with multinational companies,' Mr Albanese said. 'Today I announce our government will provide $75 million in additional funding to support native title holders to secure better deals, drive faster approvals and deliver a real and lasting economic legacy for communities.' The Prime Minister said the funding will focus on reforming the model used by prescribed bodies corporate – the legal entities set up to manage Native Title rights – allowing for greater participation, faster decision-making, and more equitable outcomes for traditional owners. Speaking in East Arnhem Land, Mr Albanese said the investment formed part of a broader commitment to self-determination through economic empowerment and announced the establishment of a new First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance. 'This new approach requires new partnership. Today we bring it into being,' he said. 'Today I announce the First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance. The Coalition of Peaks and our government have developed with that, have established a new economic partnership.' The Prime Minister said this partnership would focus on unlocking opportunities in clean energy, infrastructure and critical minerals while helping First Nations communities move 'beyond passing transactions to lasting partnerships that create and share wealth'. Albanese also announced a $70 million fund for First Nations-led renewable energy projects, describing the initiative as a way to generate jobs and reduce reliance on diesel power in some of Australia's most remote and sun-drenched regions. 'Today we are opening up $70 million in funding to help get First Nations clean energy projects up and running,' he said. 'This is about renewable energy generating good jobs in regional and remote Australia and making sure that people in some of the sunniest places on the continent, and indeed the world, don't have to rely on diesel generators to light and power their homes.' The speech marked a shift in focus from the emotional fallout of the failed Voice to Parliament referendum, with Mr Albanese signalling that his government is now concentrating on tangible outcomes. 'There were of course tears about the referendum result,' he said. 'I hope that the presence of such a large delegation is an indication that we have doubled down on our determination to make a difference and find a path forward.' Joined by a significant number of ministers and MPs including Tanya Plibersek, Jason Clare, and Dorinda Cox, the Prime Minister said his team was committed to delivering 'real and lasting change'. The Garma Festival, held annually on Yolngu country, has long been a meeting point for Indigenous leaders, political figures, business executives and academics. This year's theme – 'Ngarrpiya: to stand firm' – was reflected in Mr Albanese's address, which focused heavily on delivery over symbolism. 'Reports and reviews have their place, but they are not a substitute for outcomes, for results,' he said. 'Creating a process matters but is not the same thing as making progress. Delivery is the standard by which all of us must measure ourselves.' He also highlighted the rollout of Mobile TAFE programmes, investments in remote housing, and efforts to reduce the cost of essential goods in remote community stores. 'This is all about tangible, meaningful change in remote communities so that people can have a secure roof over their head, so they can put food on the table, so that they can trust water from the tap,' he said. 'This is what responding to needs looks like.' The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to visiting Garma every year for as long as he remains in office. 'I commit here that every single year that I have the great honour to be Australia's Prime Minister, I will be here and engaged with you,' he announced. 'Culture wars are a dry gully. They offer us nothing and they lead us nowhere. 'The way forward is to invest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Trust in their aspirations and draw from their knowledge.'
Perth Now
24-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Aboriginal women's service tackling financial abuse
A longstanding inner-city support hub for Aboriginal women will get a big cash injection to protect them from financial abuse. The Mudgin-gal centre in Sydney's Redfern has operated for more than three decades, providing a safe space with programs and facilities for women, mothers and families experiencing domestic violence or homelessness. Sometimes the centre simply serves as a place to drop in for a yarn, and its chief executive Ashlee Donohue says provides a sanctuary for women no matter who they are or what they have experienced. Mudgin-gal's important work is expanding with a grant of up to $200,000 and mentoring from the Commonwealth Bank to tackle financial abuse in the community. The support will allow for culturally safe programs like their trauma-informed sacred circle initiative, which focuses on healing while building financial literacy so women can gain an understanding and independence around money. "This is a big deal for us," Ms Donohue told AAP. "The fact that there's mentoring with it, we're not just guessing, we're getting proper information from the bank, and that's remarkable." The grant is part of the bank's Next Chapter Innovation program, which invests in First Nations-led initiatives to provide culturally informed, practical responses to financial abuse. Other program grant recipients include the Queensland-based Mookai Rosie-Bi-Bayan, which provides healthcare and accommodation to women and children in Cape York, the Northern Peninsula Area and Torres Strait. The Next Chapter Innovation program was established to help "break the cycle" of financial abuse, Commonwealth Bank's Indigenous business products executive manager Mitchell Heritage said. "We are proud to back community-led organisations that are delivering real change on the ground," he said. Financial abuse can look different in Indigenous communities with family pressure and exploitation of cultural obligations sometimes used to control finances, Ms Donohue said. Many women who are in a financially abusive situation may not be able to recognise it as such she said, which is why it is important to build financial literacy. "There's a need for our women to understand finances better," Ms Donohue said. "In reality we've always been behind the eight ball with money in this country - our ancestors worked for no wages - so this skilling up and sharing knowledge in this space hasn't really been done before and that in itself is innovation." 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
Cision Canada
03-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
First Nations Investment Forum Launches: Inaugural First Nations-Led Economic Conference Now Open for Registration, Speaker & Project Submissions
VANCOUVER, BC, July 3, 2025 /CNW/ - Canada's First Nations-led investment conference, the First Nations Investment Forum (FNIF 2025), is officially launching today. The inaugural forum will take place December 8–10, 2025, at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, and is now accepting Early Bird registrations, speaker submissions, and project presentation proposals. Co-presented by Horizon Seven Professional Services and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation, FNIF 2025 will unite Indigenous governments, economic development corporations, high-growth project developers, institutional investors, financial institutions, investment management firms, and public sector leaders to accelerate Indigenous investment, ownership, and economic sovereignty. "This is a historic moment. The Forum is a space where Indigenous Nations can drive economic partnerships and investment on their terms—backed by policy, capital, and vision," said Anthony Maunula, CEO, Horizon Seven. Why FNIF 2025 Matters? FNIF 2025 arrives at a pivotal time for Indigenous-led economic growth. With new legislation emerging under Bill C-5 and the launch of the $10 billion Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program, this forum will serve as a platform to leverage policy, financing, and collaboration for transformative infrastructure, clean energy, mining, and natural resource projects across the country. Key forum features include: Major project and investment opportunity pitch sessions and capital matchmaking Keynotes and panels from Indigenous, government, and industry leaders Policy briefings and legal infrastructure workshops Networking opportunities for investment and Nation-to-Nation partnerships Now Open: Call for Speakers & Presenters FNIF 2025 invites submissions from: Speakers with insights on Indigenous economic development, partnership investment strategies, policy frameworks, and Nation-to-Nation collaborations Presenters with investment-ready projects in high growth sectors such as energy, real estate, tourism, technology, and critical minerals seeking capital, equity partners, or strategic collaborators Details on proposal requirements, submission guidelines, and session formats are available at: Key Dates Submission Deadline: August 15, 2025 Notification of Selection: September 5, 2025 Conference Dates: December 8–10, 2025 Location: JW Marriott Parq Vancouver Register Today Registration for FNIF 2025 is now open with early-bird rates for the conference and hotel available until August 15, 2025. Sponsorship packages are also available.
West Australian
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
WA Young Achiever Awards: Noongar Wongi rapper and youth mentor Joshua ‘Flewnt' Eggington named overall winner
When he's not under the bright lights on stage, he spends his time with young people in custody at Perth's Banksia Hill and Casuarina prisons. Proud Noongar Wongi man Joshua 'Flewnt' Eggington, 29, was the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Western Australia Young Achiever of the Year Award presented by Minister for Youth Hannah Beazley. Mr Eggington was selected from the nine category winners, who were announced at the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards Gala Presentation Dinner. He founded FN Focus, a First Nations-led music label supporting Indigenous artist development and sustainable careers, in 2023 and is known worldwide for his songs Flip the Shame and Never Forget Since breaking into the Australian hip-hop scene in 2010, the father of five from Palmyra has used his music to pay homage to his family and culture. 'Hip-hop comes from the voiceless and the oppressed,' he told The West Australian in 2024 after being crowned the City of Melville's Auspire Young Citizen of the Year, for dedicating hours at Melville Library helping budding musicians write songs. 'Just by it's nature, hip-hop has this sort of attachment of being able to give people a chance to speak their truth. 'Music has always been one of the great forces behind political change, so I feel like I'm contributing to that through music. 'For me, it's always been about my community and the things I've observed as a young Aboriginal man, like all the rallies and protests I went to when I was a kid with my uncles, marching through the streets and protesting for our rights and Aboriginal equality and change and all these different issues that face my community.' Mr Eggington is a youth worker — mainly in the prison system in Banksia Hill and Casuarina — who teaches songwriting and music therapy. Many of the young people he works with are Indigenous and he previously told The West music is a way for the kids to connect with their culture. 'When you're working with young people who are disconnected from culture, they yearn for it,' he said. 'I am trying to give them a contemporary channel to be able to connect back to their culture and to their people and to be able to speak on their thoughts of what's going on.' In between youth work and music, Mr Eggington has found himself as something of a mentor to young artists across WA, and a vocal advocate for West Coast hip-hop. The award winner's eldest son, Ethan, is also a hip-hop artist, named Inkabee who recorded his first track at seven years old. Their family double act was busy last year touring regional WA as part of the Perth Festival and Mr Eggington appeared on America's Got Talent with his now 13-year-old son. All of the WA Young Achiever Award winners were announced on Friday at Pan Pacific Perth, in front of an audience of almost 400 people, hosted by 7NEWS presenter Jerrie Demasi. Mr Eggington also won the National Indigenous Times Indigenous Community Leadership Award. Each category winner received a free mentoring and strategy session with DMT Coaching, valued at $400, and will feature on a TV ad campaign that will be aired on the Seven Network across Western Australia.
NZ Herald
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Travel Alerts: Brisbane Festival 2025, new luxury accommodations, flight routes, and water journeys
Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. Celebrate Brisbane Festival and join one of 100 events in the festival lineup. Each week in Travel, we check out some of the latest happenings from Aotearoa and beyond to inspire your next adventure. Brisbane Festival 2025 The Brisbane Festival 2025 is back, promising an electric celebration of arts, culture, and creativity. From September 5 to 27, the festival will transform the city into a playground of performances, installations, and events. This year's lineup features more than 100 events, including 14 world premieres and 20 Queensland exclusives, turning Brisbane's theatres, parks, rooftops, and riverbanks into vibrant creative playgrounds. Start your festival itinerary with a colourful walk in one of Craig & Karl's inflatable art installations across Neville Bonner Bridge, Goodwill Bridge, and Kangaroo Point Bridge. Spend your days hopping through the various events throughout the whole month of September, starting with Gatsby at the Green Light, a glittering recreation of a 1920s party reimagined for the 2020s through cabaret. Watch artists in their element with shows like Baleen Moondjan, a breathtaking First Nations-led outdoor performance by the river, or the Undercover Arts Festival, Australia's premier disability-led performing arts festival. Expect free outdoor concerts, large-scale public art, comedy, circus, cabaret, and concerts. End your festival experience with a 400-drone light show above Festival Garden in South Bank with the crowd favourite Skylore. See the full programme at
