Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Last year, the government announced $5.8 million for an independent makarrata commission. Does the government still support this commission, and exactly what will it do?

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

The 2023 referendum is about constitutional recognition through a voice. Australians will be asked a simple question: do you support a change to the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice? Let's be clear about what the Voice is. The Voice will be a committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who will give advice to the parliament and the government on issues that affect their communities.

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

The minister will pause. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition seeking a point of order? She has the call.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance: this was a very tight question. It went to one issue and one issue only. Respectfully, to you and to the minister, I ask that you bring the minister back to the question.

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

The minister has had a preamble—

An honourable member interjec ting—

I'll make that determination. The minister has had a preamble. The question was about the makarrata commission and funding from her government, whether the government still supports the commission and what it will do. I invite her to return to the question.

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Members of the Voice will be chosen by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their local areas and serve for a fixed period. It is about recognition and it is about listening. In the words of NRL legend Johnathan Thurston, from North Queensland:

Our young people deserve the chance to be their best … I've seen the obstacles they face. Nobody understands that better than their local community. Giving them a say will mean more of our kids reach their potential. That's what the Voice is about.

So I say to Australians: vote 'yes' for unity, for hope and to make a positive difference.

An opposition member interjecting—

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

The minister has concluded her answer.