Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Indigenous Australians. In the October 2022 budget, the government announced $5.8 million for an independent Makarrata Commission. What does the minister expect this commission to do?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you to Senator Nampijinpa Price for the question. As Senator Nampijinpa Price would know, we have made substantial investments through the May and October budgets to ensure that we are supporting improvements in outcomes, particularly in closing the gap, in those key priority areas for Australia's First Nations people and, frankly, ensuring that those investments are targeted—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Nampijinpa Price?

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order on relevance—

A government senator interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I've got a senator on her feet. Sorry, Senator Nampijinpa Price; would you start again.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order on relevance. I'm speaking specifically to the $5.8 million for the Makarrata Commission.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. I'll draw the minister to your question. Minister.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

But it's in the context of—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) | Link to this | Hansard source

No, it's not.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, it is. It is! I'm happy to get to it, and I give you a commitment: I will get to it. I am talking about the investments we made, because we made a number of investments. The senator's question goes to investments made in the budget, including—I acknowledge—to the Makarrata Commission, which I will get to. But I'm also saying that the government is doing a range of things to support additional investments in First Nations communities to deal with the gaps that we have in terms of health outcomes, engagements with the legal system, housing—

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) | Link to this | Hansard source

It's about Makarrata.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, it's not—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat. Order on my left! I called a number of you, Senator Ruston particularly. Interjections are disorderly. Minister, please continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

That investment is to support one element of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which included constitutional recognition through a voice to our nation's parliament—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston!

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

truth-telling and treaty.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat. Order on my left! Senator Henderson! Order across the chamber! Order! Minister, please continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

That's been around since 2017, so I don't know if you've had your head in the sand since then, Senator Henderson!

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order, Senator Ayres! Senator McKenzie! I have reminded senators that comments across the chamber are disorderly, as is the noise level. Minister, please continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

The government have been clear that we will establish an independent Makarrata Commission to oversee a national process for agreement-making and truth-telling. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Nampijinpa Price, a first supplementary?

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) | Link to this | Hansard source

In an interview last week, the Minister for Indigenous Australians said that the Makarrata funding was really code for treaty. Can the minister confirm that this is correct?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Makarrata Commission will fund and support local models of truth-telling in partnership with First Nations communities, community and church groups and other levels of government. The commission will create an official record of the stories being told and heard, including stories of survival and culture, colonisation, massacres, discrimination and resistance. The commission will also work closely with the First Nations Voice when it is established. I think that is well understood. I'm not sure what the concern that's been raised over here is about, because people have understood that the Makarrata Commission is an important part—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Nampijinpa Price.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order—does the minister agree with Minister Burney's comments?

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator. The minister is being relevant. Minister, do you wish to continue?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

I think I've answered the question. I have explained what the role of the independent Makarrata Commission would do. I support the work of Linda Burney. She is an incredible member of parliament, and she's doing an incredible job in leading this and ensuring that people understand the positive impact of a voice through the Constitution. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Nampijinpa Price, a second supplementary?

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you; I'll take that as a 'yes'. Why does the Prime Minister say that this is not about treaty, yet his Minister for Indigenous Australians seems to think so? Can the minister explain to us who is right and who is wrong?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is focused on supporting the 'yes' campaign to support constitutional recognition through a voice to parliament. We believe that working together on this generous offering from First Nations people around how to bring the country together is around consultation and listening. This is about recognition, through the Constitution, of the rich history of this country that dates back 65,000 years. We are working together with First Nations communities around the country on this, and it's about bringing the country together—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Nampijinpa Price?

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam President, I have a point of order on direct relevance. Can the minister please explain to us whether it's the Prime Minister who was correct or the Minister for Indigenous Australians.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has just informed me she has finished her answer.

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

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.