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

I thank the senator for the question. When the Senate voted to agree to the schedule change for the recent estimates hearing, it was more than a minor programming change. It was a structural change to the way First Nations issues are scrutinised by the Senate. Previously, Closing the Gap and First Nations issues were confined to a separate day and treated separately at the end of the week. That meant that departmental secretaries and ministers across government didn't need to answer questions on Closing the Gap. But, at these recent estimates hearings, that all changed.

All 17 Closing the Gap outcomes were clearly outlined in the program for the very first time across the six Senate committees. The time dedicated to First Nations issues more than tripled, and, at estimates, we saw just how successful that change to the program was for scrutiny of Closing the Gap. I'm delighted to report that, when combined, we saw 11 hours of actual questions asked and answers delivered scrutinising First Nations issues and Closing the Gap at estimates. That's 5½ hours of questions and answers in committees on top of the time dedicated for NIAA and Indigenous portfolio bodies. Senators were able to ask questions of the right portfolios, reflecting that Closing the Gap is a whole-of-government commitment. This was an enormous achievement for accountability on Closing the Gap. I congratulate my colleagues, and I congratulate the Senate.