Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Cox. I will try and deal with a few issues. The first is the reference by Her Excellency the Governor-General of Australia today to Noel Pearson's framework, which talks about our First Nations heritage, our British institutions and, of course, our multicultural society, particularly post World War II and the large-scale migration to Australia.

I am, and we are as a government, very committed to telling the full story of Australia. Certainly in my own portfolio, as you would be aware, that's something we seek to bring to how we engage with the world. Obviously, much of the thinking behind the referendum, as you know, at the request and urging of many Indigenous and First Nations leaders, was part of that.

What I would say to you in relation to Greens bills is that you are entitled to move private senators' bills, as you know. Those bills are not the way in which progress is made in this or in any other area of policy. But I would say to you that I think support for reconciliation is a core Labor value. It is a value that I think is shared by Australians. Australians do believe in a fair go and they do want to close the gap. The government remain determined to move reconciliation forward and to seek better results for Indigenous Australians as we take the time that is needed to get makarrata and truth-telling right. I think the result of the referendum demonstrates that that is the case. The work of treaty does go on at a state and territory level, and there will be a diversity of processes— (Time expired)