Jacinta Nampijinpa Price NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
2:56 pm
My question is for the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Minister McCarthy. There was an election commitment from this government to establish a Makarrata commission to oversee truth-telling and treaty-making. At estimates two weeks ago your agency reported the $5.8 million budgeted for Makarrata had been moved from the National Indigenous Australians Agency to the contingency reserve, with officials confirming that we don't have specific resourcing for work on the Makarrata commission. Will the government keep its promise to establish a Makarrata commission before the end of this term of parliament, or has it now accepted that this was a bad idea—just as bad as the Voice?
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
2:57 pm
I thank the senator for her interest in truth-telling and for her interest in wanting to know about the Uluru Statement from the Heart. As I said at Senate estimates, our government supports, in principle, the Uluru Statement from the Heart, with voice, treaty, truth. We have never shied away from that. We accept that we lost the referendum and we accept the decision of the Australian people, but we also acknowledge that there is only one question that was put to the Australian people, and the question was on a Voice to the Parliament. There was no question on Welcome to Country, there was no question on Makarrata. There was no question on truth-telling. I would remind the Senate—
Hollie Hughes NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Shall we have another one?
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
I'll take that interjection. Let's remember that your leader, Senator Hughes, wanted another referendum. He wants a referendum. Well, where is it? You took to the Australian people that you wanted a referendum and, clearly, you're not even interested in that. You do not speak the truth to the Australian people.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Order! I have Senator Nampijinpa Price on her feet. Come to order. Senator, a first supplementary question?
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
2:59 pm
If a Makarrata Commission will not be established in this term of parliament, why is the government keeping taxpayer money budgeted for it in the contingency reserve?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
That's a good question.
Sue Lines President
Order! It is a good question, Senator Cash, and it deserves an answer in silence, so I expect to not hear your voice. Minister.
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
I do thank the senator for the question. As we know, the Senate is a place where we scrutinise and question our bills or pieces of bills before the Senate, and, of course, there is an inquiry underway by the Senate into truth-telling. In fact, there are senators opposite who are actually on that inquiry into truth-telling and into a bill introduced by Senator Cox.
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
What has this got to do with the contingency? Can't you answer the question?
Sue Lines President
Minister, please resume your seat. I asked for silence. That is what I asked for. It is disrespectful to continue those interjections. I tried to ask for silence in a lighthearted manner, but that didn't work. I'm asking and I'm requesting that there be silence.
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
As there is a bill before the Senate that is looking into truth-telling, naturally, our side of the parliament is involved in that committee.
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, the question was very specific in relation to the budgeted money, not the fact that there's an inquiry taking place. It's specifically to the contingency reserve.
Sue Lines President
Thank you, Senator Nampijinpa Price. You started your question referencing the makarrata commission, and I believe the minister is being responsible and answering your question. Please continue, Senator McCarthy.
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
So, naturally, we are waiting for the outcome of that Senate inquiry.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
3:01 pm
You're taking direction from the Greens. Minister, rather than shuffling money into backwards-looking programs like the makarrata commission, why won't the government agree with the coalition to focus all spending on programs that make a real and effective difference to Indigenous lives?
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
3:02 pm
Our government is contributing greatly to improving the lives of First Nations people. In fact, I continually reach out across the aisle to senators opposite to come and learn about that. I had a meeting yesterday morning, to which Senator Nampijinpa Price and Senator Liddle were invited, to explain what we are doing. I'm more than happy to do that again—
Kerrynne Liddle SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence
No agenda!
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
but they clearly do not want to hear good news.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.