Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Minister McCarthy. I have seen that you are selling tickets to a Labor Party business event in Sydney on 9 April, offering corporate bigwigs access to you over afternoon tea for a cool $4,000 a head. Research from the Australia Institute found the majority of people agree these cash-for-access events amount to corrupt conduct and that politicians should refuse to participate in them. Will you cancel this event to reflect community expectations and avoid public perception that the Minister for Indigenous Australians is engaging in corrupt conduct?

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

Thank you, Senator Thorpe, for the question. I too was very curious to see the article in the Sydney Morning Herald this week about an event which I'm very pleased to attend in terms of meeting stakeholders in New South Wales. I think it's really important to move beyond the areas that I know really well, in terms of northern Australia, to have some time with stakeholders in New South Wales. I think it's certainly important to be able to do that. We have talked about fundraising in this parliament, and we know that each of us needs to look at that in terms of what we are trying to do to support those we are here to support. So thank you for the question.

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

Senator Thorpe, first supplementary?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This event is priced at $4,000, intentionally just below the disclosure threshold, meaning the identities of your cashed up guests will not be revealed. Will you commit to voluntarily publishing who you meet at this event so mob and the public can see who is being sold access to you?

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

I always do my best to work within the disclosure rules. I think that's why we have them, in terms of being able to reveal what we need to transparently, and it's expected of me as a minister in this government.

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

Senator Thorpe, second supplementary?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that grassroots organisations often struggle to get a meeting with you. Will you use the time you've set aside on 9 April for this lobbyist meeting to instead meet with some of the many grassroots administrations and mob who are waiting to meet with you?

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

I think that's a really grubby imputation of your question, Senator Thorpe.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order on relevance, on calling my comment grubby—you would have called it on me! I'm just saying.

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

Senator Thorpe, that's not a point of order.

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

I certainly meet with as many stakeholders as possible, not just here in Canberra but right across the country. And, if I can't meet personally, I try to meet online or with phone calls. My staff are very diligent in trying to reach out to everyone who contacts my office, and I do appreciate the work of my team. But it's not only my office but right across the cabinet and my colleagues who try to assist with stakeholders, Senator Thorpe. I think you know that very well.