Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Wong, representing the Prime Minister. Today Australia's newest Governor-General spoke about Australia's history being made up of three chapters: the Indigenous foundations of 65,000 years, the arrival of British institutions, and our multicultural present and future. This week, the Greens will introduce a bill for Australia's first truth and justice commission, to formally record the first chapter and ongoing injustices. The government took the path last year for constitutional reform, on the Voice to Parliament, and since then there have been crickets on implementing the other two pillars of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Will the government support the Greens' bill on Australia's first truth and justice commission?

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

Thank you, Senator Cox. I will try and deal with a few issues. The first is the reference by Her Excellency the Governor-General of Australia today to Noel Pearson's framework, which talks about our First Nations heritage, our British institutions and, of course, our multicultural society, particularly post World War II and the large-scale migration to Australia.

I am, and we are as a government, very committed to telling the full story of Australia. Certainly in my own portfolio, as you would be aware, that's something we seek to bring to how we engage with the world. Obviously, much of the thinking behind the referendum, as you know, at the request and urging of many Indigenous and First Nations leaders, was part of that.

What I would say to you in relation to Greens bills is that you are entitled to move private senators' bills, as you know. Those bills are not the way in which progress is made in this or in any other area of policy. But I would say to you that I think support for reconciliation is a core Labor value. It is a value that I think is shared by Australians. Australians do believe in a fair go and they do want to close the gap. The government remain determined to move reconciliation forward and to seek better results for Indigenous Australians as we take the time that is needed to get makarrata and truth-telling right. I think the result of the referendum demonstrates that that is the case. The work of treaty does go on at a state and territory level, and there will be a diversity of processes— (Time expired)

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

Senator Cox, a first supplementary?

Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

There's bipartisan support for a republic across the political spectrum, and polling shows 50 per cent of Australians support a republic, a measure that would help us move beyond the colonial chapter of history. Will the government commit to a republic in their second term of government?

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

Senator Cox, that is a bit of a stretch as a first supplementary, but I will invite Senator Wong to address the question.

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

Senator Cox, with respect, there isn't bipartisan support on a republic. With respect, there isn't. I've been on record many years as being a supporter of a republic, but there is not bipartisan support. What we know from history, as opposed to talking about it in this place, is that constitutional reform is hard. It is particularly hard when we're in a hyperpartisan world where we know that there is no way that Mr Dutton, whose reflex and focus is always to say no, always to be negative and always to run a scare campaign, would be supportive of it.

I'll take the interjection. This is correct. They're not going to be supportive of it. (Time expired)

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

Senator Cox, a second supplementary?

Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

The new Governor-General talked about the Australian character and its fundamental democratic spirit in her speech today. Will this government commit to moving beyond the colonial era to a truly democratic one that includes the voices of First Nations people and ending the reign of unelected heads of state and having a treaty with its First Peoples?

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

I have a great deal of sympathy for the sorts of principles you're describing. But I also know that change is hard, change requires us to bring people with us and change requires, ultimately, the support of not just the majority of the parliament but the majority of the Australian community. We have a way to go on some of the issues you've raised. I hope there will come a day when we look back and say, 'We did well to keep walking down the path of reconciliation together after the referendum.' Certainly we do need and want to move forward on many of the issues, such as makarrata and treaty, in the way you describe. There's a lot of work that's being done on treaty processes— (Time expired)