More than two million Age Pensioners receiving income support will be able to earn more income and hold more valuable assets without their pension being affected, following annual adjustments from 1 July 2008.
People with disabilities, their families and carers will benefit from a $1.9 billion boost in funding under a new agreement reached today at a meeting of Disability Ministers in Sydney.
Millions of Australian families receiving Family Tax Benefit (FTB) and Child Care Benefit (CCB) will benefit from increases to payment rates, thresholds, and associated limits, following annual adjustments from the beginning of July 2008.
The Australian Government is boosting drought and outreach services by increasing the number of support workers delivering government services to drought affected parts of regional and rural Australia.
I was informed of concerning news last night about asbestos identified in a number of Northern Territory communities.
The Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2008, introduced into Parliament today, allows for more flexible leases in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.
A bill introduced in Parliament today will make the family payments system simpler and fairer, targeting assistance to those who need it most.
The Australian Government will contribute $550,000 to the upgrade of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) at Dubbo Airport which will benefit more than 40,000 people in western New South Wales.
The Australian Government is providing demountables to the South Australian (SA) Government to house police officers on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, while permanent structures are built.
One of the largest communities on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, Amata, has today moved a step closer to having new houses, as part of the Commonwealth Government's $25 million housing offer to the APY Lands.
A calligraphy version of the Apology Motion was unveiled today by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at Parliament House to mark the 10th anniversary of National Sorry Day.
Boosting and retaining high-quality foster carers is one of a range of measures canvassed in a discussion paper released today by the Australian Government aimed at helping protect children from abuse and neglect.
I will join former AFL champion Michael Long today on The Long Walk from Federation Square to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The AFL's Flying Boomerangs Leadership Program is helping young Indigenous players kick goals on and off the field.
The Australian and Northern Territory (NT) Governments are joining forces to reduce criminal activity and illegal trafficking of drugs and alcohol in the Katherine region and in the north of the NT, including East Arnhem, Nhulunbuy, Groote Eylandt and
Indigenous people in the Groote Eylandt region will benefit from an historic Regional Partnership Agreement (RPA) signed today between the Australian Government, the Northern Territory Government and the Anindilyakwa Land Council.
The first residential boarding facility on the Tiwi Islands was officially opened today at Pickertaramoor on Melville Island.
Three family group homes have been constructed at the Tiwi College, providing accommodation for up to 36 students.
A discussion paper to encourage debate and ideas on economic development and jobs for Indigenous Australians was released today by the Australian Government.
I am pleased the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth has announced a parliamentary inquiry to investigate how carers can be better supported in their vital role.
Encouraging parental responsibility will be central to a new approach to ensure children are enrolled at and attending school.
The Australian Government will build 600 new homes for the homeless across the country with a $150 million total investment over the next five years.
The Australian Government will support the employment of people with disability by extending access to wage assessment tools for businesses at a cost of $25.7 million over four years.
The Australian Government has established a Housing Affordability Fund and will invest $512 million over the next five years to lower the cost of building new homes.
People with disability, their families and carers will benefit from a National Disability Strategy being developed by the Australian Government to increase their economic participation, social inclusion and wellbeing.
The Australian Government is investing $334.8 million towards closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation.
The Australian Government will set up a $90 million fund to train and employ Indigenous rangers.
In a move that significantly expands the Volunteer Grants Program, the Australian Government has committed an additional $15 million over three years to help community organisations and their volunteers with their work, including help to pay their fuel
As part of our commitment to tackle child abuse and neglect, the Australian Government is developing a National Child Protection Framework.
Night patrols to make remote Indigenous communities safer and more secure for families and children will continue as part of the Australian Government's commitment to implementing the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER).
Older Australians will benefit from a range of 2008-09 Budget initiatives including bonus payments, national transport concessions, free internet kiosks, and portability of concession cards when travelling overseas.
The Australian Government is delivering $1.2 billion over five years, including 37 2008-09 Budget measures, towards closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The Australian Government has announced its intention to finalise negotiations with Finland and Poland to introduce social security agreements to improve access to pensions for residents of these countries.
Working in partnership with the Western Australian Government, the Australian Government will provide an $18.9 million package to implement income management and financial literacy skills training, to help protect children in selected Western Australia
The Rudd Government is supporting working families under financial pressure by expanding financial counselling services and support as part of a $20 million Australian Government commitment over four years.
The new National Rental Affordability Scheme will help create up to 50,000 new rental properties across Australia at a cost of $622.6 million over the first four years.
Australia's carers are set to benefit from an $822 million package of measures to increase support and recognition of their vital economic and social role.
Improvements will be made to the Baby Bonus and Family Tax Benefit (FTB) under a simpler and fairer family payments system.
The Rudd Government is committed to tackling the educational disadvantage of Indigenous Australians and has made this a key goal of its Education Revolution.
The Australian Government is tackling housing affordability and homelessness with a Budget housing package investing $2.2 billion over the next four years on boosting rental stocks, helping people save for their first home, lowering housing constructio
The Australian Government will change the Maternity Immunisation Allowance (MIA) to encourage all parents to fully immunise their children before they start school.
New rules and compliance checks for Family Tax Benefit (FTB) payments and Commonwealth Seniors Health Cards will ensure payments and concessions are correctly targeted to those who are entitled to them.
The Australian Government is introducing a new debit card to make it easier for people on income management to put food on the table for children and reduce the red-tape burden placed on small retailers.
The Australian Government has committed $666.1 million to fund practical measures in Northern Territory (NT) communities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Indigenous families and children.
The death of Dr Marika last night is a great loss to her people and to all of us, Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, who are committed to reconciliation.
Her death has sadly cut short a remarkable and inspirational life.
Programs to provide training and support to volunteers and the not-for-profit sector are receiving a $5 million injection of funds from the Australian Government.
The Australian Government strongly supports the key theme of Autism Awareness Week - to increase the community's understanding of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
Autism Awareness Week begins Sunday 11 May.
The Australian Government will immediately commit more than $19 million as part of a new partnership with the South Australian Government to protect children from abuse on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.
In the upcoming budget the Rudd Government will commit one billion dollars to fund disability services and increase support for carers.
More than 300 Indigenous families and children will benefit from up to $1 million over two years in Australian Government funding for additional playgroups in the Northern Territory.
While Australia's overall low maternal death rate has fallen, the mortality rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is still unacceptably high and of great concern to the Australian Government.