In a budget focused on taxation and cost-of-living, Labor says its commitment to Closing the Gap continues, with previously announced investments in remote jobs, housing and culturally safe healthcare dominating the Indigenous affairs portfolio.

Tuesday's budget, described by Treasurer Jim Chalmers as "responsible," "reforming" and "ambitious in the face of diversity," commits more than $1 billion over five years to Closing the Gap initiatives.

The government has focused heavily on economic independence and development as a way to close the gap, citing economic participation and business as areas for improvement.

Arguing the government is building an economy that is "stronger, fairer" and giving more Australians a "stake in our success," the Treasurer said they are investing "an extra $1.2 billion to close the gap".

"Doubling the number of jobs created as part of the Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program," he told Parliament on Tuesday evening.

"Improving the housing quality and expanding our support for grocery stores in remote First Nations communities."

The RJED program — which replaces the Coalition-era CDP — takes the headlines, with $299 million over five years announced earlier this year, bringing the number of remote jobs to 6,000 by the end of the decade.

In housing, $265.6 million will flow into Northern Territory remote housing in 2026-27 as part of a 10-year joint venture with the NT government.

Mr Chalmers told reporters: "Too many young people are locked out of housing."

A further $100 million is earmarked for remote Indigenous housing as part of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) — split evenly between the NT, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia — while $88 million in the next financial year, and $28 million in 2027-28, will be spent improving housing and essential services in homelands communities.

Another $6.3 million over three years from 2026-27 will establish a national First Nations housing body to represent the interests of Indigenous people in the housing sector.

With cost-of-living pressures magnified in remote and regional areas, the remote food subsidy has been expanded to 225 stores across Australia as part of the Low-Cost Essential Subsidy Scheme. Meanwhile, $32.7 million over three years will be spent improving and expanding the Store Efficiency and Resilience Package, supporting an additional 75 remote stores to improve storage capacity.

In the NT — which receives significant Commonwealth funding and has been criticised for failing a number of Closing the Gap metrics — $65.6 million will be spent in 2026-27 on a community safety implementation plan as part of the Northern Territory Remote Aboriginal Investment, alongside $8.8 million for Aboriginal interpreter services.

In health, $144 million over two years has been earmarked for infrastructure improvements for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) to deliver better services for Indigenous people. Another $53 million over five years will go towards dialysis units, while $44 million over four years will extend funding for 10 existing Birthing on Country services.

First announced earlier this year, $218.3 million over five years has been committed to establish up to 40 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver specialist, community-led services as part of the Our Ways - Strong Ways - Our Voices: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Plan to End Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence 2026-2036.

A steering committee of Indigenous leaders this year said the plan "will be our commitment to honour the testimony of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples around the country who told us what they need".

"We listened to women and children. We listened to Elders, young people and men. We listened to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations and non-Indigenous organisations that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities," the committee said.

"We listened to governments who want to end gender-based violence through better investments and genuine and formal partnerships."

Another $4.5 million has been earmarked to continue culturally safe accommodation services for First Nations people, while $1.5 million will support community-led services, programs and campaigns to prevent violence against Indigenous women, children and families.

In justice, funding for Indigenous legal services has not increased beyond inflation, with $164 million allocated in 2026-27, alongside a further $110.1 million for community legal centres through the National Access to Justice Partnership.

In education, as part of the $2 billion Thriving Kids Initiative, $60.8 million over five years will support workforce development and training, including dedicated funding for the Indigenous workforce.

Another $55 million over three years will go to the Clontarf Foundation to extend its existing program through the 2027 and 2028 school years.