SBS Our House

Indigenous Australia reacts to the 2026 federal budget

SBS Our House

Show Notes

The Federal Government says it's investing $1.2 billion in First Nations communities and Closing the Gap over five years as part of Tuesday's budget. Headline measures include new funding for remote jobs, community controlled health infrastructure, and programs to combat gendered violence. Despite these investments, some community leaders have told NITV they feel the budget left First Nations people behind.

More from SBS Our House

Oct 16, 2026

The senior leader of the ultra-conservative religious group, the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, has appeared before a parliamentary inquiry to respond to allegations of interference in the last federal election in 2025.

Oct 15, 2026

Labor's digital duty of care bill would let Australians opt out of social media algorithms.

Sep 30, 2026

New Greens leadership, rising inflation and the political fallout from the OpenAI Medicare data breach.

Sep 16, 2026

The university sector is pushing back against One Nation's migration plan, which would cut hundreds of thousands of international student and graduate places over three years. Pauline Hanson says she's reflecting the will of the people, but industry leaders say the policy could wreak havoc on the economy and worsen skills shortages. The policy has also prompted fresh calls for reform and investment in research and education.

Sep 9, 2026

Independent Fatima Payman earlier this year became the first ever WA senator to give birth while serving parliament. While she isn't the first person in the Parliament to find a way to make it work, it's always a challenge to balance the requirements of Parliament with the needs of a young baby. Now, as Canberra sits once agai, she's been talking to SBS reporter Chris Tan to talk about motherhood, politics and in a political environment that's highly charged around the topic of multiculturalism and migrants... the kind of Australia she wants to leave for her daughter.

See all episodes →