Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, and I refer to her previous answer. When asked what matters would not be within the remit of the Voice, she said, 'The Voice will concern itself with issues that directly affect First Nations people.' Minister, which issues do not directly affect First Nations people?

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The minister for the environment! Members on my left! The member for Moncrieff! We heard the manager read his question in silence. The minister will be given the same courtesy.

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

BURNEY (—) (): I thank the member for the question. We should all reflect that, just on Monday, the Productivity Commission brought down a report on the Closing the Gap targets, and it told a terrible story. We are elected into this place to represent everybody, and to do that is also to understand these statistics. The life expectancy gap is not on track. It is not okay that my life expectancy is eight years shorter than the deputy's. It's not okay. It is not okay that, for children who are doing year 12, the outcomes will not be as good for First Nations students. It is not okay that babies are born at unhealthy birth weights. That is not okay. I visited a community last week where there were 30 people living in a two-bedroom unit. That is not acceptable. This is why the Voice is important. This is why it will make a practical difference on the ground. This will make a very practical difference.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

'What would Linda Burney know about this'? Why don't you go ahead and correct her!

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

The Minister for the Environment and Water is warned and will not interject. I'm trying to hear the Manager of Opposition Business's point of order.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance: I think all fair-minded Australians agree with the point about the work we collectively have to do on the Closing the Gap targets. The question goes to the Voice. Minister, which policies do not directly affect First Nations people?

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

The member for Gellibrand is warned! I'll hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On two points of order: one, on the relevance rule, what matters is whether or not it's relevant to the terms of the question. That's what standing orders say, and I put that it is. Secondly, and I didn't want to interrupt while the minister was speaking, but I get that when a minister—and some of us do it; I'm guilty of it—deliberately inflames the place, people will interject back. The constant interjections, in particular from the member for New England—

Honourable members interjecting—

Interjections are always disorderly. But it is also the case—

Opposition members interjecting—

It's what you're doing now. I know you get angry a lot, but it's what you're doing now. When an answer is being given in the tone in which the Minister for Indigenous Australians is giving the answer, the interjections that are coming from those opposite simply should not be there.

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

I'm listening to the minister carefully to make sure she is being relevant regarding the question. Interjections are highly disorderly. I want to hear what the minister has to say, and I'm sure all ministers want to hear what she has to say. I issue a general warning to the House and ask the minister, in continuation, to be relevant to the question. I will listen to her answer.

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

One of the incredibly important design principles of the Voice to Parliament is that it will work alongside and with existing organisations and traditional structures. The Coalition of Peaks is fundamental to the Closing the Gap targets, and the Voice will be able to work alongside the Coalition of Peaks in terms of the implementation plan. Let us remember that, when the opposition came into government last time, they cut $500 million out of the Indigenous affairs budget, and that had a devastating effect. This country does not want to see further disadvantage. The Voice is about practical outcomes and recognition, those two things. That is what you need to understand.