Kerrynne Liddle (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

LIDDLE () (): My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy, and it is on Australians you have not delivered for. Since the Albanese government was elected in 2022, six Closing the Gap outcomes have regressed. Youth detention is up 11 per cent, suicide is up 9.4 per cent, adult incarceration is up 3.5 per cent, preschool attendance is down 2.6 per cent and 1.2 per cent fewer children commencing school are developmentally 'on track'. With these terrible outcomes only getting worse under Labor, why has the government shut the door on accountability by removing a standalone day for cross-portfolio Indigenous matters at the next supplementary budget estimates?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for her question. I would certainly reject outright that the Senate doesn't have an opportunity to ask questions on Closing the Gap. In fact, the Senate now has multiple opportunities to ask questions on Closing the Gap. They can go and ask questions on health, in terms of the health minister's role. They can ask about housing in the housing minister's role. They can ask about justice in the justice minister's role.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Sorry, Minister McCarthy, could you resume your seat. Order across the chamber, particularly on my left!

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In fact, I am absolutely thrilled to see the opposition wanting to become involved in seeing those targets drop and being a part of scrutinising every department that you should. That's what this is about. I have travelled across the country talking to the cabinet ministers in those particular jurisdictions about Indigenous affairs, and we know and we've taken it back to our cabinets—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Clearly, the other side don't want to listen.

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

I have a point of order. I wonder if the interjections, which have been continuous from Senators McKenzie, Cash and Liddle, could cease for a moment.

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

As you no doubt heard, I have been calling the chamber to order. I have particularly called those on my left to order. I remind people that Minister McCarthy has the right to be heard in silence.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This matter is so serious in terms of First Nations people in this country. What is shameful here today is the politicising by the opposition when they have a very real opportunity to do their job and actually attend all of the estimates every single day to ask the very questions that First Nations people in this country expect of this parliament.

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

Senator Liddle, first supplementary?

Kerrynne Liddle (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, 1,254 organisations failed to fulfil mandatory reporting requirements under regulator ORIC in the 2023-24 financial year. Noncompliance is a fairly good indicator that something's not right. Recently, Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service was put under special administration for the second time in four years and joins the queue with so many others. Australians should know why your government and its bureaucrats didn't act on these matters earlier. What are you trying to hide?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's clear to see where the coalition are going on this; it is very clear to see. On the one hand they feign interest—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister McCarthy, please resume your seat. Order on my left! The minister will be heard in silence.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the one hand they feign interest in closing the gap and the targets for First Nations people in this country.

Opposition senators interjecting—

It is very true that you feign interest in this. On the one hand you do that, and then you wonder why we ask for further scrutiny across the Senate estimates for every single one of you. Every single one of you can turn up and ask those questions. In fact, I'm going to monitor how many of you actually turn up and ask questions.

In fact, I'll go even further; I'm going to go back and find out how many of you actually asked questions, Senator Cash, on closing the gap.

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

Senator Liddle, second supplementary?

Kerrynne Liddle (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Your binning of a standalone day focused on Indigenous Australians and the Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters is astounding at a time when you have shut your eyes and closed your ears on South Australia's algal bloom crisis and failed to act on Indigenous lives that are not improving. Does the Albanese government know what it's doing, and will the Minister for Indigenous Australians be at the table to answer questions regarding Indigenous matters when we ask them?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Before I call the minister, I'm going to remind people that the minister has the right to be heard in silence, and that is what I expect. Minister McCarthy.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Liddle, if that's the nub of your concern—that you won't be able to see me at estimates—I can tell you now that I will be at estimates, and you will be very able to ask me questions. In fact, I not only sit answering questions around Indigenous issues—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

I remind senators that I asked for order!

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I sit and answer questions on health, on aged care, on local government, on regional governments—

The:

Minister McCarthy, please resume your seat. I think that was you, Senator Nampijinpa Price; apologies in advance if it wasn't. I have asked for silence, and that is what I expect. Minister McCarthy.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They've got form. I'm here answering—

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

Minister McCarthy, please resume your seat. Senator Henderson?

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, just to clarify, to correct the record: that was actually me making concerns about Indigenous boarding schools and the cuts to Indigenous boarding schools—

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

Senator Henderson!

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! I'm waiting for order! Thank you, Senator Ayres! Order! I take question time seriously. When I ask for silence, that is what I expect. My apologies, Senator Nampijinpa Price. Senator Henderson, you stood up with right intentions, but, no, then you proceeded to launch into some statement which you were not entitled to make. It's not a joke when I call for order, and, when you completely disregard that, it's disrespectful to me. Minister McCarthy, please continue.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The issue of closing the gap and reducing those targets is incredibly important for First Nations people in this country, and I do call on the Senate and all Senators to take part and give the scrutiny that's required.