House debates Questions without Notice

Makarrata Commission

Tuesday, 1 August 2023 House of Representatives

Sussan Ley

Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women

2:09 pm

My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Last year, the government announced $5.8 million for an independent makarrata commission. Does the government still support this commission, and exactly what will it do?

Linda Burney

Linda Burney Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians

2:10 pm

The 2023 referendum is about constitutional recognition through a voice. Australians will be asked a simple question: do you support a change to the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice? Let's be clear about what the Voice is. The Voice will be a committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who will give advice to the parliament and the government on issues that affect their communities.

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

The minister will pause. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition seeking a point of order? She has the call.

Sussan Ley

Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women

On relevance: this was a very tight question. It went to one issue and one issue only. Respectfully, to you and to the minister, I ask that you bring the minister back to the question.

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

The minister has had a preamble—

An honourable member interjec ting—

I'll make that determination. The minister has had a preamble. The question was about the makarrata commission and funding from her government, whether the government still supports the commission and what it will do. I invite her to return to the question.

Linda Burney

Linda Burney Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Members of the Voice will be chosen by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their local areas and serve for a fixed period. It is about recognition and it is about listening. In the words of NRL legend Johnathan Thurston, from North Queensland:

Our young people deserve the chance to be their best … I've seen the obstacles they face. Nobody understands that better than their local community. Giving them a say will mean more of our kids reach their potential. That's what the Voice is about.

So I say to Australians: vote 'yes' for unity, for hope and to make a positive difference.

An opposition member interjecting—

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

The minister has concluded her answer.