Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

As a former manager of Centrelink Indigenous services, I can guarantee you that Aboriginal women do not trust Centrelink services. Whether they are black workers or white workers or whatever workers, they are still part of the colony that hurts us, Aboriginal women. When I was in Centrelink, there were no Aboriginal people that complained about Centrelink services because they didn't trust Centrelink services for the very reason that Senator Shoebridge has outlined in terms of having threats of having your children removed from you or having your payments cut. So I refute your comments about Aboriginal women. You're not the expert just because you're a minister, and you're not the expert when it comes to what Aboriginal women talk to the colony about and what they don't talk to the colony about. The systems that we have to deal with as Aboriginal women in this country are all violent. They're all violent! From going to the hospital and having a baby—violence. Seeking housing—violence. Going for a job—violence. Any service that the colony has established is racist. Minister, you cannot say that your workers in your service know the communities, because that's a lie.

Aboriginal women, through this schedule 5, are at risk the very most. I'd like to ask you, Minister: the bill actually doesn't say that the person needs to be a threat to public safety, so what constitutes a threat?