Senate debates Questions without Notice
Indigenous Australians: Cultural Heritage
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
2:30 pm
My question is for the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. Last week, the Territory Labor candidate for the Nightcliff by-election said, 'Territory Labor is proud to now oppose the federal Labor government's plan to destroy Larrakia country at Binybara/Lee Point.' Your Labor colleagues in the Territory have backflipped against you and now want this project to be cancelled. Will you as Minister for Indigenous Australians ensure your government listens to your NT colleagues and scraps this ecocidal project, or do you still want the destruction of Larrakia country to go ahead?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Can I indicate that, as I understand it, that project to which the senator refers—
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I apologise. You're correct—a point of order on the person to whom the question is directed, President. As I understand it, this project is a project that is managed by Defence Housing Australia, so the responsible minister would be, I think, Senator McAllister. I invite the senator—
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
She asked it of the Minister for Indigenous Australians.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Again, I'd remind the Senate that the Westminster system gives ministers accountability to the parliament for those areas and portfolios for which they are responsible, and so the appropriate question should go to the minister representing the responsible minister.
Sue Lines President
Senator Thorpe, did you wish to redirect that question to Minister McAllister?
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
No, I don't. This is very relevant to the Minister for Indigenous Australians.
Sue Lines President
What I will say to you is that the minister will answer it in the way that she sees fit, because the leader of the government has indicated it's a question more appropriately directed to Minister McAllister, but you've indicated you want Minister McCarthy, so I'll direct her to answer the question.
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
2:32 pm
Thank you, Senator Thorpe, for the question. I have to say huge congratulations to Ed Smelt, the new member for Nightcliff, in the Northern Territory. I think it was really important that he was able to walk around the electorate of Nightcliff—
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
A point of order, President, on relevance—I've learnt that much, and that's not relevant.
Sue Lines President
Senator Thorpe, as I indicated to you, the person responsible for the portfolio to which your question is directed is Minister McAllister. You acknowledged that, but nevertheless the question was to go to Minister—
Senator Thorpe, I'm answering your point of order—McCarthy. You invited her to answer your question, and Minister McCarthy answers it in whatever way she sees fit, because she's not the responsible minister.
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
Thank you, President, and I do thank Senator Thorpe for the question, and I am very conscious that the Nightcliff election took place on the land of the Larrakia. I acknowledge that Ed Smelt as the Labor candidate fought very hard and diligently for that seat. I acknowledge him and his family and all of those who supported him. Yes, it's certainly a point that Ed took to the election, and I would say, President, that the development activity at the site of Lee Point is currently paused, pending the outcome of proceedings before the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and there is no active development currently underway. To be clear, as has been pointed out, Defence Housing Australia has ceased construction activity at the site, other than essential site maintenance agreed with the tribunal, and will not recommence works until all legal, heritage and environmental requirements are met, which is what we would expect.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
2:34 pm
Did federal Labor give the okay to Territory Labor to take this position against the federal Labor party in order to beat the Greens in that election, or did you just get a nasty surprise to see Territory Labor break ranks, side with the Greens and come out against you?
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water
On a point of order, there is no relevance whatsoever between that question and this minister's responsibilities. I don't know whether you have the capacity to rule it out of order.
Sue Lines President
As I've pointed out to Senator Thorpe on the advice of Minister Wong, the responsible minister is Minister McAllister. Senator Thorpe has indicated that she wants Minister McCarthy to answer those questions.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I have an additional point of order. That doesn't relate to matters of government. That is a question that is entirely about an assertion as to political—
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
We got asked about—
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
It wasn't a discussion of colour coded spreadsheets either, Senator McKenzie. I submit that the question should be ruled out of order. There is no aspect of that which touches upon government administration.
Sue Lines President
I will seek the advice of the Clerk. I am advised that Minister Wong is correct. Your first supplementary, Senator Thorpe, does not go to any portfolio matter. It was a political question. If Minister McCarthy wishes to respond to the political question, I invite her to do so. Minister McCarthy?
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
2:37 pm
That's alright.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
Have Territory Labor met with your government or sought a meeting on this, or was this just a gammon fake promise they made to beat the Greens in the election?
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water
I ask that you rule that question out of order.
Sue Lines President
The first part of the question is in order. I remind Senator Thorpe, once again, that Minister McCarthy is not the responsible minister, but I'll invite Minister McCarthy to respond to the question.
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
I'm certainly very proud of the new candidate for Nightcliff. I certainly wish him well and I certainly wish Northern Territory Labor well, in terms of their role as opposition in the Northern Territory assembly.