House debates Questions without Notice
Uluru Statement from the Heart: Treaty
Gavin Pearce Braddon, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health, Aged Care and Indigenous Health Services
3:08 pm
My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians. One of the elements of the Uluru statement is a 'makarrata commission' for 'agreement-making' and that 'Labor will take steps to implement all three elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in this term of government'. Will the government negotiate a treaty in this term of government?
Milton Dick Speaker
I was a little lost in that question. I want to hear from the Leader of the House about what was being quoted. Sorry, I couldn't hear that.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
The point of order is about any minister trying to make sense of the question. The question made clear that it was quoting from something, but he kept secret what he was quoting from, which makes it very difficult for a minister to answer or for us to work out whether it's in order.
Milton Dick Speaker
I ask the member for Braddon to state the question again and, perhaps if you're using a quote, to say that source.
Gavin Pearce Braddon, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health, Aged Care and Indigenous Health Services
Will the government negotiate a treaty in this term of government?
Milton Dick Speaker
That's a different question, but it's within the standing orders.
Linda Burney Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
3:10 pm
I thank the member for his question. I have repeated a number of times this week that the priority of this government is a referendum at the end of the year to recognise First Peoples in the Constitution and to make sure that policy and practical outcomes are improved so that we can close the gap.