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. The Minister for Education today said it was 'rubbish' and 'a lie' that some of the people who helped design the Voice are seeking reparations through treaty. But Voice architect Professor Megan Davis has written:

Treaties are about reparations for past injustices … How can these things be excluded?

…   …   …

… a Voice to Parliament is the first step, and treaty-making follows.

Minister, who is right, the Minister for Education or one of the members of your First Nations Referendum Working Group?

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

I thank the member for his question. The Voice to parliament, this referendum, is not about reparations. We have made that point on a number of occasions. It is about entrenching a voice, enshrining a voice in the Australian Constitution. It is about listening, it is about making sure that we, collectively as a parliament, get advice directly from First Nations people, and it will result in better outcomes. That is what the referendum is about. All of the things that you raised and others have raised are just attempts to play politics. This is above politics. This is about making sure that our founding document, the big lawbook of this country, reflects the truth about something that all of us should be proud of.

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

Order! The member for Groom is warned.

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

We live in a nation that is older than any other. We live in a nation where we should be proud of the human history of this country. I make this point very clearly: the Voice will be about things that affect First Nations people, health, education, jobs and housing. And I also make this point, which seems to be miraculously forgotten by those that advocate no: the third part of the proposed constitutional amendment is extremely clear about our collective role in this place in relation to the referendum. It says:

The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including—

And I say this very clearly, to those of you taking notice—

… its composition, functions, powers and procedures.

How that is forgotten is beyond me. All you have to do is read the question and then read the three parts to the amendment, and you will realise what our responsibilities are.