Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, and I refer to the Prime Minister's answer yesterday regarding the National Anti-Corruption Commission. If the Prime Minister's answer yesterday was right, why are Indigenous rangers covered by the proposed commission but not union officials exercising a power under a law of the Commonwealth?

Linda Burney (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 21 May just gone, there was an election—an election that the Labor Party won because of the issue of integrity. That was one of the main issues people were voting on in that election.

Indigenous rangers are a fundamental part of caring for country. We on this side of the House have a commitment to double the number of Indigenous rangers and also to increase Aboriginal protected areas by 10. That is the commitment on this side of the House, not to mention justice reinvestment and not to mention the enormous amount of money we're putting into Central Australia to deal with issues that are very difficult. The point that you raise about the rangers not being covered—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will pause. To the member who is on his feet, I will say that the minister is being directly relevant to the question. The minister was talking directly about the issue that the member raised. There's no point of order. I'll give the call back to the Minister for Indigenous Australians.

Linda Burney (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And I have to say that Indigenous rangers are absolutely accountable to their community, because they come from the community that they serve. They deal with issues to do with feral animals. They deal with issues of keeping waterholes clean. They deal with issues of looking after country and water.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will pause. I give the call to the member for Riverina.

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I fully respect what Indigenous rangers do, for and on behalf of the nation. But the question also related to why they are covered by the proposed commission but not union officials, and she hasn't referred to that part of the question yet, Mr Speaker.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, the minister is referencing the question with the issue of Indigenous rangers. She can answer the question how she sees fit, and I will give her the call and ask all ministers to remain relevant to all parts of questions.

Linda Burney (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've completed my answer. Thank you.