Senate debates Questions without Notice
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
2:46 pm
My question is for the Minister representing the Attorney-General, Minister Watt. This morning, your government voted down my private senator's bill to establish a legislative pathway to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the UNDRIP. Is the government committed to enshrining the UNDRIP into Australian law at a later stage, maybe?
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
2:47 pm
Thanks for the question, Senator Thorpe. As you're aware, we had a discussion about this last week in the context of Senator Dodson saying farewell to this chamber, and I want to acknowledge the fantastic work of Senator Dodson as the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.
Sue Lines President
Senator Watt, please resume your seat. Senator Thorpe, before I come to you, you don't need to wave your arms around.
The:
Senator Thorpe, you're not in a debate with me.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
Thank you, President. Relevance is my point of order. It's not a farewell speech. It's basically a question about: do you—
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
I don't need a farewell speech. I heard that the other day.
Sue Lines President
Senator Thorpe, please resume your seat. The minister is referring to the report which was released last week, which is going to the matters that you referred to, so the minister is being relevant. Minister Watt, please continue.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Senator Thorpe, I can assure you I am not giving a farewell speech. I was reflecting on the farewell speech given by Senator Dodson last week, talking about the report presented by the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Senator Watt, please resume your seat. Order! This is Senator Thorpe's question. She has the right for the answer to be heard in silence.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Senator Thorpe, as you're aware, the report of the joint standing committee on the inquiry into the application of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia made a number of recommendations which the government is now considering. The report included contributions from experts, organisations and community members alike.
Sue Lines President
Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Senator Thorpe?
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
Point of order: relevance. Once again, it was my inquiry. I was there for the inquiry—my bill. My question, to the point, is: when is the government going to enshrine our rights in this country?
Sue Lines President
Senator Thorpe, resume your seat. You've made your point of order.
Senator Thorpe, you are directing your response—
Senator Thorpe! If senators are out of order, I will call them to order. Minister Watt, I draw you back to the question.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
I actually just said that the government is considering the recommendations of that report, which go to the matters that your bill was concerned with. It is the very spirit of the principles that underpin the declaration that mean we as a government will ensure we take the time to engage and consult with First Nations peoples in a deliberate and meaningful manner to help inform our response to the recommendations. To do otherwise would be entirely inconsistent with the very principles of the UN declaration. We must take the time to get this right. The report gave some very important recommendations in relation to the rights of First Nations people. I think our government has shown a very firm commitment to the rights of First Nations people in Australia, and we intend to back up that commitment through properly considering this report.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
I've actually finished my answer.
Sue Lines President
Senator Thorpe, the minister has indicated to me he's concluded his answer, so I am asking you to put your first supplementary, please.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
I have a point of order. With all due respect, President, in terms of process, I was standing—
Sue Lines President
Please resume your seat. I am managing the chamber.
Senator Thorpe, withdraw that comment. I'm asking you to stand and withdraw that comment.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
Due to the colonial powers of oppression, I withdraw the comment.
Sue Lines President
Senator Thorpe, that's not acceptable. I would ask you simply to withdraw the comment.
Sue Lines President
Thank you. Every senator in this place has the right to ask their questions, and they need to be heard in silence and they need to be heard with respect. That goes for every single person in this place. Senator Thorpe, you can't call a point of order once the minister has concluded; I'm inviting you to make your first supplementary.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
2:49 pm
Given there is no legislative commitment, can you please outline the pathway through which the government intends to implement UNDRIP fully?
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
2:52 pm
Of course I'm not in a position to provide a specific time frame for the implementation of that declaration, because, as I've said, the government is now considering the recommendations of the joint standing committee that made recommendations on this matter. As I said in my answer to the previous question, we intend to consult with First Nations peoples in a deliberate and meaningful manner to help inform our response to the recommendations.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
I take the interjection of 'shame'. I hardly think it's shameful to consult with First Nations peoples about the implementation of these recommendations. Frankly, Senator Thorpe, I'm surprised that you think it's shameful that we would consult with First Nations peoples. I think that is exactly the right approach for us to take, and that is the way we will ensure that delivering on the recommendations of this report actually respects the rights and interests of First Nations people. I'd like to think that you would support that.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
2:53 pm
The government recommended the development of a national action plan to implement the UNDRIP in the recent committee report. Will the government progress the development of such a national action plan in this term of government?
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
2:54 pm
As I say, we are now considering the recommendations of that report, and one of them is the issue that you've referred to. I've said repeatedly through my answers that we intend to consult on these matters. We aren't in a position to provide a time frame for them, but we do take them seriously.
I think this government's got an excellent track record on delivering for the interests of First Nations peoples, and that's why we want to take this matter seriously as well.