Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that the Government is currently undertaking a refresh of the Closing the Gap targets;

(b) acknowledges that:

  (i) Aboriginal children are over-represented in child protection systems around the country, and are more than nine times more likely than their non-Aboriginal counterparts to be placed in out-of-home care,

  (ii) there is a pressing need to address the underlying causes of over-representation, and improve the life outcomes of Aboriginal children taken into care, and

  (iii) Aboriginal children have a right to be safe, and to be connected to kin and culture in line with the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020;

(c) recognises the need for Aboriginal-led solutions in Aboriginal communities, rather than top-down approaches from Government; and

(d) urges the Government to include reducing out-of-home care in the refreshed Closing the Gap targets, and ensure that vulnerable families are receiving the support they need for improved outcomes and safety of children.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is currently consulting with Indigenous people and state and territory governments on a refreshed Closing the Gap agenda. The government does not support this motion as it would pre-empt the outcomes of these consultations and contradict our approach to work with Indigenous people to develop new Closing the Gap targets. The safety of our children is paramount; we must focus on the reason children are being placed in out-of-home care rather than making broad statements calling for a reduction in children in care.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 779 be agreed to.