House debates Questions without Notice
Makarrata Commission
Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women
2:26 pm
My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians. I refer to her previous answer. The minister said, 'Progress of Makarrata will not occur until after the referendum.' Minister, the government has already spent $900,000 of $5.8 million on this commission. What was this money spent on?
Milton Dick Speaker
The member for Moreton will leave the chamber under 94(a). I can't be clearer when I say I want silence for questions and answers.
The member for Moreton then left the chamber.
Linda Burney Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
2:27 pm
I thank the member opposite for her question. I would like to quote from the Uluru statement and what it says about makarrata. It says:
Makarrata is the culmination of our agenda: the coming together after a struggle. It captures our aspirations for a fair and truthful relationship with the people of Australia and a better future for our children based on justice and self-determination.
Milton Dick Speaker
The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is seeking a point of order?
Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women
Mr Speaker, Is it your ruling that questions can be asked to the minister and completely unrelated statements can be made and that she is not being brought back to answer the question which was specifically with respect to the timing?
Milton Dick Speaker
That is not a point of order. You are asking me a question. We're going to move to the next question because that was not a point of order.