Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
2:42 pm
This question is for the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Minister McCarthy. Minister, I understand that approximately 90 applicants for the latest round of justice reinvestment grants were recently informed that their applications would not even be considered. This decision reeks of disregard for those fighting to make meaningful change on the ground. Can you confirm the total number of applicants that were sent this letter and how many were from organisations that were First Nations controlled and operated?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I understand that that program is, in fact, administered in the Attorney-General's portfolio. I'm happy for you to either redirect the question or address it to the minister representing the Attorney-General. I'm not trying to be difficult. I think it's a program that's not covered by Senator McCarthy's portfolio but is—
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
You need to open your eyes, President.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
They are having a go at me. You don't hear them, do you?
Sue Lines President
Senator Thorpe, you are not in a debate with me. You either withdraw the comment you just made—
Sue Lines President
Thank you. Senator Polley, I'm not quite sure what you said—
Sue Lines President
Senator Thorpe, if you can't come to order then I will rule that you not be heard. I am trying to work out what happened. I do not need your interjections. If there was a disorderly comment—I thought it was Senator Polley, but my apologies if it wasn't—I am inviting whoever it was to withdraw in the interests of the chamber.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
2:45 pm
Thank you, Senator Thorpe. This government has made significant new investments when it comes to justice matters involving First Nations people. We've particularly made investments through our National Justice Reinvestment Program that are entirely designed to support the legal needs of First Nations people in a wide variety of communities right across the country. Many of the organisations are of course in remote communities, and they span a range of Indigenous corporations, leaders groups and legal services. As recently as September this year, Minister McCarthy and the Attorney-General jointly announced an additional six organisations selected to deliver justice reinvestment initiatives, everywhere from the—
Sue Lines President
Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Senator Thorpe?
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
It's relevance. The question is that there are 90 applicants; 90 mob have reached out saying, 'What's going on with this minister here?'
Sue Lines President
Senator Thorpe, please resume your seat. You don't need to repeat the question. The minister is being relevant. You did talk about a particular program. The minister is responding to the first part of your question.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
As I say, Senator Thorpe—through you, President—there are a wide variety of organisations that have been funded already by the government through our Justice Reinvestment Program. I don't know the circumstances of the groups that you're referring to. But it is not unusual that through funding programs there are more applicants seeking funding than can be provided funding. So it may well be the case that some of the organisations that you're talking about did apply unsuccessfully for funding, but I can take you through the list of organisations that have received funding.
In February this year we funded nine organisations to deliver justice reinvestment initiatives across a number of states. In April we funded an additional 10 organisations to deliver justice reinvestment initiatives. In September an additional six organisations were selected to deliver justice reinvestment initiatives. And they are of course in addition to our early investments in Alice Springs and Halls Creek. I understand that maybe not everyone was successful, but there are a lot of groups getting funding as well. (Time expired)
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
2:47 pm
Can you please outline the reasons for the 90 that weren't considered after their application? They want an answer.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
I don't think, Senator Thorpe, you would expect me to have the details of a tender process in a portfolio that I'm not the minister for. It is customary for feedback to be provided to applicants as to why they're unsuccessful. I'm happy to take on notice what I can provide about why those particular groups were unsuccessful, if in fact they did apply. I don't know whether they did or not.
As I've said to you, there are a very large number of organisations that have been funded, as a result of this government, in a way that hasn't been done before under previous governments. That's a good thing. These organisations are delivering important services to people who deserve that support, and that's exactly what our government will do going forward.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
2:48 pm
Applying for government grants is time consuming and diverts organisations' time and resources away from the urgent needs of our people. Will your government compensate those 90 applicants for the resources they wasted on a process that led nowhere?
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
I would haven't thought we would be compensating groups who are unsuccessful in receiving government funding. Across every single portfolio of government there are far more organisations that apply for funding than it is possible to fund. We don't fund any groups who are unsuccessful in obtaining funding. I don't know whether the particular groups that you're talking about were eligible for funding. But the reality is that, from what I can see, there are a large number of organisations from every state and territory in the country who have received funding, ranging from the Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre Inc. to the Nja-marleya Cultural Leaders and Justice Group, in Maningrida, in the Northern Territory. Of course, it would be disappointing for those who missed out on funding, but it simply isn't possible to fund every organisation who seeks government funding, whether it be in this portfolio or in any other.