House debates Questions without Notice
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
Gavin Pearce Braddon, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health, Aged Care and Indigenous Health Services
3:05 pm
My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Minister, what areas of government policy do not affect Indigenous Australians?
Linda Burney Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
I thank the member for Braddon for your question. I have stated repeatedly where I believe the focus of the Voice should be. I have consulted extensively with Aboriginal communities, including the communities in Tasmania, on what the issues are. People tell me very clearly it is about housing, education, jobs and health.
Milton Dick Speaker
The minister will pause, and I'll hear from the Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
Mr Speaker, on relevance. The truthful answer is that every area of public policy affects—
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
I'd just suggest, Mr Speaker, on the scale of abuses of points of order, that was pretty high.
Milton Dick Speaker
I think the Leader of the Opposition knows that was an absolute abuse of the standing orders. He is entitled to take a point of order on relevance. The minister is 40 seconds in. He is not entitled to give a statement and simply state his view. The minister has the call and now will be heard in silence for the remainder of her answer.
Linda Burney Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
I say this to the member for Braddon and remind the House: what we're being asked about on 14 October is the establishment of an advisory body. That body will give advice to the government and to this parliament. It will make sure that there is a change in the life outcomes for First Peoples, but it will also be a good thing for this country.