Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Science) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Bill 2026. As the member for Durack, I consider this bill to be an issue close to my electorate and to myself. Around 15 per cent of my constituents are Indigenous, equating to 30,000 voters from Broome, Kununurra and Derby, and from smaller communities in the Kimberley, East Pilbara, Gascoyne, Mid West and beyond. This bill directly affects me and my duty to support all those who are Indigenous and reside in Durack. I represent some of the country's most vulnerable people.

The Albanese government, however, continues to let down those Indigenous people across Australia by offering up poor bureaucratic solutions to Closing the Gap targets, particularly those related to young people. First it was the Voice. When that failed because it was half-baked and poorly thought out, the Prime Minister appeared to have turned his back on Indigenous Australians. Unless there is a photo opportunity or perhaps a chance to get in front of the media, you won't see him talking or relating to Indigenous Australians. Prime Minister Albanese and his ministers went missing during the alcohol abuse crisis in the Kimberley in 2024, and also during the time that there were high rates—in fact, continuing high rates—of youth crime in the north-west of Western Australia. Labor was exposed, following the Voice referendum, as not having a plan B to deal with these issues. When it comes to making the tough calls or putting some work into finding solutions, the Prime Minister takes the easy option of hoping that maybe the vibe will fix them.

This bill provides yet another example of just that—a headline-grabbing piece of legislation that doesn't deliver results. It adds more public servants and bureaucrats duplicating work already done by current Commonwealth, state and territory bodies such as the National Children's Commissioner and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner within the Australian Human Rights Commission. There are also relevant bodies within half of our states plus the ACT, and the Department of Social Services is already required to consult children and young people.

Labor had the choice, during their first 18 months in power, to either spend $450 million on a referendum or spend $450 million on improving the worsening frontline situation. I think we all know what Labor chose, and now four critical Closing the Gap targets are going backwards—adult incarceration, school readiness, children in out-of-home care and, sadly, suicide rates. As a coalition, we would prefer the prioritising of practical solutions rather than symbolic measures.

More broadly, of the 19 Closing the Gap targets, just four are on track—one less than last year. In the context of children and young people, youth detention is up 11 per cent, preschool attendance is down 2.6 per cent, and 1.2 per cent fewer children are commencing school developmentally on track, compared to 2022. It should be obvious to everyone that creating a $33 million commission won't change these trajectories. Only practical, localised action will. Instead of adding bodies and departments, the minister should be reviewing and improving our current bodies to ensure they are doing their jobs and to hold them to account to deliver real results for Indigenous Australians.

The people I represent can tell that Labor prioritise symbolism over practical actions. Frankly, results really don't matter, as long as the photos, the headlines and the reflection in the mirror all look good. It's pretty sad, actually. A hallmark of this government across both terms has been the shirking of responsibility and accountability, and this bill is another example. Work that should already be undertaken by roles within government, such as local consultation, providing advice, undertaking research and advocacy, is simply being shifted to a new position, moving accountability from government agencies, the Coalition of Peaks and the minister.

As an opposition—and particularly as the member for the largest Indigenous population outside of the Northern Territory—we need to question. No. 1: how will the commission's education program reach children? Goodness knows the education department is struggling, so why does the government think the commission is going to be able to do any better? No. 2: why do we need another body to help close the gap? No. 3: what special or specific powers will the agency have, and why do they need these special powers? No. 4: how independent will this new independent authority be? The minister must confirm whether her department will be able to amend, edit and influence work undertaken by the commissioner prior to its publication. I regularly hear from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that they are tired of consultation. How do we know that this will not be just another outreach body, consulting the same people on the same issues without necessarily talking to the people that really matter—the people who are impacted, in localised areas?

On this side of the House, we will always prioritise practical actions over symbolic gestures. A coalition government will empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people by ending the cycle of welfare dependency. We will ensure funding is only provided to organisations with a track record of good governance. I know and understand that it's is going to take really difficult work to make sure that there's no duplication by other bodies. We will work to increase school attendance rates, because the coalition considers school attendance a critical protective factor. In fact, I would say everyone in this place would consider that education is the first thing that we must deal with.

The message and call to the government is simple: please drop the symbolism, the egos and the lack of detail and instead start prioritising practical and real action to support young Indigenous Australians and to close the gap. Quite frankly, we're all waiting for the plan B. The Voice failed. What is your plan B? This commission cannot be your plan B. Indigenous Australians deserve so much better from this government. The coalition does not support this bill.

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