Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Nampijinpa Price. Firstly I think, if I can just go to your comment in regard to the families and individuals that came down here, that you were referring to, if I reflect and put on the record here in the Senate, that was the day, I understand, that we had the working group here to make the announcement in regard to the question that would be put to the Australian people with the Prime Minister. So there was certainly no intention of any disrespect. In fact, the invitation just came the night before that event. It was just unfortunate that such a late request had come through, when the calendar was already filled with a huge day of the Prime Minister delivering that announcement with the support of the working group. So there's no disrespect there at all. In fact we are always happy to meet with anyone provided we have the appropriate time and notification of people 's visit to parliament.