Jacinta Nampijinpa Price NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
3:03 pm
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
3:04 pm
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
Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Nampijinpa Price?
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
I have a point of order on relevance—
A government senator interjecting—
Sue Lines President
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
I have a point of order on relevance. I'm speaking specifically to the $5.8 million for the Makarrata Commission.
Sue Lines President
Thank you. I'll draw the minister to your question. Minister.
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
But it's in the context of—
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
No, it's not.
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
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
It's about Makarrata.
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
Well, it's not—
Opposition senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
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
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—
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
truth-telling and treaty.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
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
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
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
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)
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
3:07 pm
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
3:08 pm
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
Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Nampijinpa Price.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
On a point of order—does the minister agree with Minister Burney's comments?
Sue Lines President
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
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)
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
3:09 pm
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
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
Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Nampijinpa Price?
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
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
The minister has just informed me she has finished her answer.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.