Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I find it very difficult in any circumstances to understand how the investment of multiple billions of dollars in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs can somehow have a negative impact. I will say there is no doubt at all that, in repairing how things were being done under the 150 different programs of the previous government, we ensured not only that were we getting value of money but that we were actually getting and buying an outcome.

There are organisations who are unhappy with that; there is no doubt about that. There are organisations that were unhappy that they were replaced with organisations that got the job done—invariably, Indigenous organisations. Ensuring that we employ more Indigenous organisations—an increase of 10 per cent—and ensuring that we are getting the job done with the right providers has offended some providers. There are always going to be those people who say, 'You are taking the money from us and giving it to others.' I do not think that has had a negative impact at all. (Time expired)