Senate debates Questions without Notice
Royal Commission into the Child Protection and Youth Detention Systems of the Northern Territory
Claire Moore Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women
2:23 pm
My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. I refer to the former Prime Minister Mr Tony Abbott, who says that the government reacted 'in panic' to the Four Corners report into abuse at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre. Does the minister agree with Mr Abbott?
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
No.
Claire Moore Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women
Thank you, Mr President. Maybe the next question will pique the minister's interest. I refer to the current Prime Minister, Mr Turnbull, who said:
This is a shocking state of affairs and we will move quickly to establish what happened.
Does the minister agree with Mr Abbott that Mr Turnbull's action was an act of panic?
Claire Moore Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women
It is would be very, very useful to take a point of order on that question, Mr President. But I will go on to say: who does the minister agree with then? The Prime Minister, who says he was deeply shocked by the Four Corners report, or the former Prime Minister Mr Abbott, who claims it was, 'pretty one-sided'?
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Mr Turnbull.