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

I'm unsurprised that the coalition may try and have a political stunt delay Closing the Gap. It doesn't matter that there was an alleged terrorist attack targeting First Nations Australians. It doesn't matter that First Nations are grappling with disbelief and fear. What does matter is that this is a time when the Senate is supposed to show respect and commitment by taking allocated time to debate progress for First Nations people in this country.

What is extraordinary is that the Greens political party is supporting the Liberals and the Nationals to deprioritise the Closing the Gap debate for a stunt on Iran. From a party that has no stake in Indigenous representation at any level of any state or federal government, I am unsurprised, but we stand with Senator McCarthy and the First Nations caucus. We want a debate that is scheduled for Closing the Gap, and we invite you to do the right thing. On that basis I move:

That the motion be now put.