Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I remind everyone that royalty payments have never been restricted by the cashless debit card. So, once again, these connections do not actually add up and, once again, are an example of misinformation. But I would also like to quote some comments from Aboriginal elder Marty Seelander, who said that people with serious drinking problems are among those from the NG lands who receive infrequent but substantial mining royalties and travel to the Goldfields region to spend their payments on alcohol. That is what the Leader of the Opposition heard. Why he would come into this place and try and mislead and conflate is beyond me.

But I will say that we, as a government, are investing in the things that work. We will invest in the support and services that work. My department continues to consult with those regions, because we promised and committed money to the existing services that were to end under those opposite—from 1 July this year there was no more money for these sites. Of course, we have not only committed that funding but have committed extra funding to the services that work. I will, and this government will, continue to work with those communities affected by these complex issues to deliver real and lasting solutions. We are not going to play politics, even if those on the other side will.

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