Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Education and Training (Senator Birmingham) and the Minister for Indigenous Affairs (Senator Scullion) to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today.

Let me say from the outset: the members opposite were unable to explain to this Senate how many ministers there are in the—is it the Turnbull government? Just tell us. That's what you're there for. You're there to take questions on notice, to stand and defend what is meant to be the government of this country, to be able to say to this Senate that you know the answer to that question. And then we heard the Minister for Indigenous Affairs go through a rollcall of what was important about the coalition relationship, when even he could not even say who the Nationals would support, in terms of a Prime Minister for this country. The minister, Nigel Scullion, could not stand up and support the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull. The Nationals say they won't enter into the debate. We heard that in the minister's reply this afternoon—a reply that got shut down so many times, in fact, that we didn't really know where he was going most of the time.

It's also interesting to note that these events in Canberra are bringing back memories for many in the Northern Territory about the infamous midnight coup—the coup that wasn't—against then Chief Minister Adam Giles. Let me remind you of those events in February 2015. It was also a government in crisis, a government of rich conservative incompetents, a government whose self-interest and infighting failed the people of the Northern Territory and ultimately led to the near annihilation of the CLP. There are lessons to be learned about democracy in this country. To have the House adjourn, closed to the people of this country, is an absolute disgrace. To have democracy in this country mocked to the extent that the opportunity to question and debate is denied to the members of the other house—and, even more importantly, the Australian people—is an absolute disgrace. Australians have been affected this week; Australians expected pieces of legislation to be debated. We are talking about important bills in here, like one about the cashless debit card or one about CDP. There are 30,000 CDP participants who are wondering what is happening with their future and the breaches that are taking place. These issues matter.

But other events were taking place across the country. This week at the Lakemba Mosque in Sydney there was a gathering attended by some 30,000 Muslims. But the parliament and the people of Australia wouldn't know it, because it wasn't talked about. Many braved the cold winter morning to conduct a special rain prayer for the worst affected areas in this country. Prayers were conducted throughout the states of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. While instability, self-interest, self-indulgent conversations and backbiting were taking place here, Australians out there were reaching out to fellow Australians, to our farmers, to the regions of Australia suffering through drought. But you wouldn't know that huge story was taking place, because there was too much focus on what was going on in here—or, in fact, not going on in here: leading this country, governing, being responsible as elected members representing the people of Australia. There were 30,000 Australians Muslims out praying for rain for our suffering farmers, but you wouldn't know it. Compare that story to the one in here. (Time expired)