Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, $900,000 has already been spent on an independent makarrata commission for national treaty-making. Last week the Minister for Indigenous Australians and the Treasurer refused to answer questions on how this money was spent. On Insiders yesterday the Prime Minister failed to explain the expenditure three times. Prime Minister, what has this money delivered?

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

The member for O'Connor is warned. I've been clear about this. It is not the time to give running commentary, before any minister or the Prime Minister gives an answer. In future people won't get warnings, on both sides. They'll simply remove themselves from the chamber. I give the call to the Prime Minister.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. He was a member of a government that had $19 billion going to businesses that were increasing their profits and didn't see a problem with any of that: 'Nothing to see here'—about $19 billion going to businesses that were increasing their profits.

Now, 'makarrata' is a Yolngu word coming from Arnhem Land, from the traditional owners, that speaks about a coming together after conflict. That is simply what it means. 'Makarrata' is about promoting reconciliation. That is what it means. We make no apologies for saying that. The idea of a makarrata that has been requested is, of course, a positive one and, yes, we had measures in the budget for it.

We saw over the weekend, as well, some commentary from people who aren't normally a cheer squad for the Labor Party speaking about the tactics of those opposite. They said this:

We are talking about a government putting a referendum to the people to enact a reform designed to unify the nation and eradicate discrimination, a reform devised by Indigenous representatives, constitutional experts and politicians of all stripes across two decades of consultation—

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on relevance, Mr Speaker: $900,000 has been spent on treaty making. What has it delivered?

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

I'm listening carefully to the Prime Minister. He's talking about the makarrata process and commission. I'm listening to what he says.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was asked about makarrata, which is a part of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. This is what this commentator, Chris Kenny, had to say—

An opposition member interjecting—

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

Order! The Prime Minister is being relevant to the topic.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He went on to say:

… of all stripes across two decades of consultation—

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

The Prime Minister will pause. The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.

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

This was a very tight question in relation to the $900,000. Is it your ruling that the Prime Minister is in order and is relevant to the question that was asked of him?

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

The Leader of the House on the point of order.

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

Mr Speaker, the point of order on relevance can only be taken once, and I should add that when it was taken previously by the shadow Treasurer he took the point of order, when he was claiming relevance, using a word that hadn't even been in the question.

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

The Prime Minister has 54 seconds. He needs to remain relevant to the topic of the question. I'm listening to what he says, but he is being interrupted while he is answering the question. I'll make sure that he is being relevant to the topic of the question, as the standing order provides for.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There you go. Chris Kenny went on to say:

Yet now the Coalition scare campaign seeks to decry this as a secretive plot to rend asunder the nation.

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

The member for Hume will cease interjecting.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He went on to say this:

It is not a plausible critique and it should not be taken seriously by media or political commentators. It insults the public.

… … …

The people running these scares know full well they are talking about nothing more than an advisory body.

He went on to say:

This truly is an attempt to turn Australians against each other.

That was Chris Kenny over the weekend.

If any of the frontbenchers opposite could have been bothered going to Garma on the weekend, they would have seen the unity from First Nations Australians asking to move forward together in the spirit of— (Time expired)