Zoe McKenzie (Flinders, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Can the minister name an issue that affects non-Indigenous Australians that does not affect Indigenous Australians?

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order. I couldn't hear the question and I just want to make sure it's in order.

Zoe McKenzie (Flinders, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is: can the minister name an issue that affects non-Indigenous Australians that does not affect Indigenous Australians.

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

I will 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

Mr Speaker, there is no reference in the question to the responsibilities of the minister. Not one. It's not like a rephrasing or anything. It is simply not there, there's no attempt to be there.

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

It would assist the House if the question could reflect on a policy. 'An issue' is so broad. I'm going to hear from the Manager of Opposition Business.

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

With respect, I don't think there can be any doubt that this question refers to the Voice, which is the subject that this parliament has been engaged with over repeated days. We have heard this minister assert this point on a number of occasions.

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

The question didn't contain the words 'the Voice'—

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! We can find a way through this. I will 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

With respect to what the Manager of Opposition Business just said: questions are in order or out of order based on the words of the question, not based on the vibe in the mind of the Manager of Opposition Business.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The Minister for Social Services will cease interjecting. Members on my left will cease interjecting.

The minister for industry is not helping.

The minister for industry will cease interjecting immediately. The Leader of the Opposition?

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

I'm very happy to make a contribution, following on from the Leader of the House's contribution. I presume, surely, that you're in a position to rule this question in order. There is no ambiguity whatsoever about the question being in order. It is within the scope of the minister's portfolio, with or without reference to the Voice, and it cannot be ruled out of order on any basis relating to the wording of the question.

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

The question was regarding an issue that affects non-Indigenous Australians that does not affect Indigenous Australians. I'm going to allow the question, but it is, by any definition, a very broad question.

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker—

Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Zoe thinks it's funny!

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

The member for Lingiari is warned.

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

As I have said already, the Voice will not be required to make a representation on every law, policy and program. The Attorney-General made clear that 'matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people' means matters specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or matters which affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people differently. Just look at the bottom score of every rung of every social ladder in this country, and you might figure that out.

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

The minister for skills will cease interjecting.