Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

Some of those opposite laugh. I was in Townsville only a few weeks ago with the member for Herbert, speaking with Indigenous women on Palm Island, which is only a couple of kilometres off Townsville. On that island, those women expressed concern to us about the need for a voice and, in fact, were in favour of a voice when it was explained to them. But they made it very clear to us that they didn't want the Voice to come from Townsville. They wanted their voice to come from Palm Island, from their small community, because they believed that their voice to date hadn't been properly heard from those even as close as Townsville, let alone Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane. So their views shouldn't be scoffed at. Their views shouldn't be dismissed. Their concerns should be heard, and their reasonable questions answered. That is not unreasonable.

Australians can't make a proper assessment simply based on three proposed sentences to change the text of our Constitution. The government has to disclose sufficient details, and we support it in doing that as soon as possible. It should not fear a public that is interested in understanding more about how we can get to the destination that we all yearn for and desire and wish to achieve as soon as possible—that is, better outcomes for Indigenous children; better outcomes for those who are incarcerated; and better outcomes for the mothers who are raising children in abject poverty in our country, in this year.

The coalition commits itself to working with the government in closing the gap on these important issues. There is no gripe about the amount of money that's required. I've had the great fortune of being in this parliament for over 21 years. I've sat on expenditure review committees and around cabinet tables and leadership groups during that period, and never once have I been party to a discussion or heard a discussion about why we should be pulling money out—only about why we need to put more money in. There's no doubt in my mind that the same conversations—of the same nature and intent—would have been held around every cabinet discussion, every Expenditure Review Committee discussion and every leadership discussion under Labor administrations as well.

There is a desire in this place to continue to spend what needs to be spent, but to do it in a way that provides practical outcomes for people who are living without housing and for children who are exposed to a childhood that robs them of the innocence of childhood. That's totally and absolutely unacceptable in our country in any year, let alone in this year. We will provide support to practical measures. We will work with the government to provide assistance to those Australians who are most in need. But we shouldn't be afraid of having a national conversation about the best way, the best path, to achieve that outcome which is in the best interests of Indigenous Australians and, ultimately, in the best interests of all Australians.

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