House debates Questions without Notice
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
Paul Fletcher Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy
2:38 pm
My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Does the minister have full confidence in Thomas Mayo remaining on the referendum working group when he referred to the powers that be as 'murderers' and sees the Voice as the first step towards reparations and compensation?
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
In terms of issues for which a minister can be responsible, to be bringing in individual comments like that just goes way beyond.
Paul Fletcher Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy
Standing orders are very clear:
A Minister can only be questioned on matters for which he or she is responsible or officially connected … public affairs or administration …
This is squarely within the responsibilities of the Minister for Indigenous Australians.
Milton Dick Speaker
The question is in order. I call the Minister for Indigenous Australians.
Linda Burney Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
2:39 pm
Thank you, Mr Speaker, and, I think, thank you to the member for the question. I will say three things. The Voice is about doing things differently. What we have been doing for many decades, despite the best will in the world, has clearly not worked. That's what I outlined yesterday, with life expectancy, educational outcomes, housing and employment. I spoke to an Aboriginal elder this morning, and she spoke about the moral authority that this would give her people. In relation to the issues that the Voice is responsible for, I can only make this point: it does not have a capacity to fund anything.