Jan McLucas Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health
2:09 pm
My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. I refer to the minister's previous answer that 'the only real impact' of the government's review into the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program is that 'they are not recruiting additional people'. Given that the national coordinator, Dr Tom Calma, said yesterday that the government has already cut $130 million from this program, does the minister stand by his previous statement? Can he outline the full impacts of the cuts to this front-line program?
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
On two previous occasions I have answered questions to colleagues in other portfolios out of decency and I have let them know. This is a question that should be directed to the person that owns that portfolio, which is my colleague Senator Nash.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Mr President, I raise a point of order. I can take the minister to the website which talks about his portfolio responsibilities and he is also actually being asked to respond in relation to a previous statement he has made as minister. That is perfectly within the standing orders.
Stephen Parry President
Senator Scullion, first of all, have you concluded your answer or do you have more to continue on with in your answer?
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
In the interests of transparency, I am happy to answer. Perhaps I can just ask them to make sure they are providing questions to the portfolio as appropriate.
Kim Carr Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science
You are responsible.
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
In the interests of transparency I am more than happy to take the question.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Well, what do you do?
Stephen Parry President
Senator Wong, you have raised a point of order. Senator Scullion is now assisting the chamber. Senator Scullion, you have the call.
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
As I understand, the only changes to the smoking initiative is there is a pause in the increase in recruitment, so my statement that there will be no impact on front-line services stands.
Jan McLucas Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health
2:11 pm
Mr President, my supplementary question is also to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. Does the minister agree with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mr Mick Gooda, that tobacco smoking is the most preventable cause of ill health and early death amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people? How does cutting $130 million from an antismoking campaign prevent ill health and early death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people? (Time expired)
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
I will have to take the details of the question on notice. I was not aware. I understood that the smoking—
Jan McLucas Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health
Why can't you answer?
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
As I said, this is a program that is in the Health portfolio, not my portfolio. I am more than happy to take the question on notice.
Jan McLucas Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health
2:12 pm
Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. Given that there has been a cut of four staff to this program in Darwin alone, does the minister still stand by his claim that government cuts to Indigenous programs will not have any impact on front-line services?
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Indeed I do. As I have said, in this particular program there is simply a pause in recruitment for some of the teams.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Indeed I am aware of the circumstances of 10 individuals in the Northern Territory and, again, it will not have any impact on front-line services.