Portfolio — 27 August 2026

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, announced the $11.4 million Remote Community Laundries Project, which will deliver new or upgraded laundry facilities to more than a dozen remote communities across the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia [TA-260827-pmc-8976c0430595]. Ten First Nations organisations were selected through an open-competitive grant round to implement the project in partnership with the communities.

The facilities will provide free access to commercial-grade washing machines, dryers, clean hot water and medicative detergents, targeting reductions in trachoma, acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease [TA-260827-pmc-8976c0430595]. The project will establish six new fixed community laundry facilities, five new mobile facilities and upgrade one existing laundry across locations including Galiwin'ku, Lajamanu, Milingimbi, Nauiyu, Ramingining, Laura, Mapoon, Napranum, Weipa, Pormpuraaw, Fitzroy Crossing and Mulan [TA-260827-pmc-8976c0430595].

Senator McCarthy said, "Community laundries are a simple but powerful investment in the health and wellbeing of remote First Nations communities" [TA-260827-pmc-8976c0430595]. She added that reliable laundry access "helps reduce the spread of preventable diseases and supports healthier living environments for families" [TA-260827-pmc-8976c0430595]. The initiative aligns with Closing the Gap Priority Reforms 1 and 2 and supports health outcomes 1 and 2 as well as economic outcomes 7 and 8.

Construction, operation and maintenance of the facilities will create jobs and economic opportunities for First Nations people [TA-260827-pmc-8976c0430595].

The announcement extends the portfolio's recent pattern of practical, community-driven investment. On 20 August, the Minister announced language-revitalisation and suicide-prevention funding, and today's laundry project continues that focus on community-led health and wellbeing infrastructure [TA-260827-pmc-8976c0430595].