House debates Questions without Notice
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women
2:30 pm
EY (—) (): My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Would the Voice be able to make representatives to the Chief of the Defence Force on military acquisitions or the location or operation of military bases?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women
Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister is laughing at me. Can I repeat the question?
Milton Dick Speaker
The member for Macnamara is warned. If he says one more thing during the question, I'm going to leave the chamber. The House will have absolute silence so I can hear from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women
My question is for the Minister for Indigenous Australians—
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! The member for Hunter will leave the chamber under 94a.
Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women
Would the Voice be able to make representatives to the Chief of the Defence Force on military acquisitions or the location or operation of military bases?
Linda Burney Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
2:31 pm
I thank the member for Farrer for her question. I can only repeat what I have already said. The Voice will make recommendations that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but the Voice will not run programs, it will not deliver funding and it will not have the power of veto. The Attorney-General was very clear in his second reading speech about specific matters to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander—
Linda Burney Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
peoples, matters relevant to the Australian community. I repeat that—matters relevant to the Australian community, including general laws and measures that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people. I am so pleased that the member for Farrer has such a thorough idea of what those things are! I can tell you what the Voice will not be giving advice on. It won't be giving advice on parking tickets. It won't be giving advice on changing Australia Day. It will not be giving advice on all of the ridiculous things that that side has come up with.
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! The minister will pause.
The member for Barker, I'm trying to hear the Deputy Leader of the Opposition on a point of order. She has the call.
Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women
On relevance: it's a yes or no question that goes to a very important question of public policy. If the Minister for Indigenous Australians cannot answer it, she could choose to hand the question—
Mark Dreyfus Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary
You don't like the answer! You're pathetic! You shouldn't let them put you up to it.
Milton Dick Speaker
The Attorney-General will cease interjecting, and I'll hear from the Leader of the House.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Mr Speaker, I would suggest that every part of that point of order was an abuse of the standing orders.
Milton Dick Speaker
The minister will continue. I want to be clear. She's being relevant to the question. The question was about the Voice and what it is able to make representations on. She's giving context, and I just heard her say, 'What it won't do,' so I can't imagine how she could be more relevant to the question. I'm giving her the call, and she'll be heard in silence.
Linda Burney Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
I will say this to the parliament: they go lower; we go higher.