Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. The Albanese Labor government is focused on closing the gap so that all Australians have the same opportunities in life—no-one is held back, and no-one is left behind. At supplementary budget estimates earlier this month, for the first time, Closing the Gap outcomes were featured in programs across all committees throughout the week. How did this change affect the way that Closing the Gap was discussed at estimates?

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

I thank the senator for the question. When the Senate voted to agree to the schedule change for the recent estimates hearing, it was more than a minor programming change. It was a structural change to the way First Nations issues are scrutinised by the Senate. Previously, Closing the Gap and First Nations issues were confined to a separate day and treated separately at the end of the week. That meant that departmental secretaries and ministers across government didn't need to answer questions on Closing the Gap. But, at these recent estimates hearings, that all changed.

All 17 Closing the Gap outcomes were clearly outlined in the program for the very first time across the six Senate committees. The time dedicated to First Nations issues more than tripled, and, at estimates, we saw just how successful that change to the program was for scrutiny of Closing the Gap. I'm delighted to report that, when combined, we saw 11 hours of actual questions asked and answers delivered scrutinising First Nations issues and Closing the Gap at estimates. That's 5½ hours of questions and answers in committees on top of the time dedicated for NIAA and Indigenous portfolio bodies. Senators were able to ask questions of the right portfolios, reflecting that Closing the Gap is a whole-of-government commitment. This was an enormous achievement for accountability on Closing the Gap. I congratulate my colleagues, and I congratulate the Senate.

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

Senator Stewart, first supplementary?

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister, for that answer. What did these changes mean in practice at estimates? How did that increase in the amount of time devoted to Closing the Gap play out in the way that questions were asked across committees throughout the week?

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

President, I thank the senator for this really important question because, in short, it worked. It absolutely worked. Through the week, departmental secretaries faced those questions. For example, it meant Senator Cox asking the Attorney-General's Department about justice reinvestment; Senator Ananda-Rajah asking the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing questions about First Nations suicide prevention; Senator Mulholland asking the Department of Education about First Nations and the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement; Senator Waters asking about perimenopause and First Nations women; Senator Thorpe asking about youth justice; and Senator Liddle—yes, I'm coming to you—asking about income management. Thank you, Senator Liddle! But more than that, because First Nations issues weren't relegated to Friday, it meant questions were even asked when Closing the Gap wasn't on the program—like Senator Dolega asking about Central Australia infrastructure, Senator Hodgins-May asking about Indigenous— (Time expired)

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

Senator Stewart, second supplementary?

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm sure our Labor colleagues would have appreciated that extra time. How will these changes to the estimates schedule contribute to the Albanese Labor government's work to drive efforts across government to close the gap?

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

These changes are what delivering on priority reform 3 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap means, and this is the Senate making structural changes to how government considers First Nations issues. That's what this is about. In terms of the Senate's responsibility, we are walking the walk. Meanwhile, those opposite may be talking, they may be baulking but they're not walking! So let's not forget—

Thanks, Senator Ruston! Let's not forget that, when the Senate voted for these changes, we had Senator Cash and Senator Duniam, who's been quite silent over there, carrying on about how the sky would fall in if we moved to this. Well, let me tell you, senators, it worked very well, thank you.

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

I ask that further questions be placed on notice.

The Senate transcript was published up to 15:02. The remainder of the transcript will be published progressively as it is completed.