David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, your government has spent $450 million on a failed referendum, while the Yipirinya School in Alice Springs has been asking for just $12 million to provide accommodation for at-risk Indigenous children to help close the gap. Will the Prime Minister commit to this funding?

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

I thank the leader of the National Party for his question. I do note, from the Leader of the Opposition, that he's spoken about it being a waste to have a referendum. There's a reason why the National Party perhaps have asked that rather than the Liberal Party, because the Leader of the Opposition committed during the recent referendum to hold another one. That's what he said. He stood up on multiple occasions—on 11 August, on 3 September, on 18 September—and said his plan, put out there for all to see, was he wanted people to vote no in this referendum, then to have an election in which he was successful and then to vote yes in another referendum. That's what he said, repeated times, before people voted. Before people voted on Saturday, he gave a solemn promise that he would support a second referendum being held.

Then, of course, the Leader of the Opposition, as well, was someone who presided over the 2014 budget he was involved with. What did they do when they came into office when it came to Indigenous health programs?

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! There is far too much noise in the chamber. The Leader of the Nationals was heard in silence. This constant interjecting—

Order! I haven't given the Leader of the Nationals the call. I just want to make the point: I can hear the questions, but I need to be able to hear the answers as well. The Leader of the Nationals on a point of order?

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance: it was a very tight question about Yipirinya School and whether the Prime Minister will commit to the funding. I see that he's now been handed notes, so I'm sure he'll now be able to answer it.

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

Order! Resume your seat. The Prime Minister in continuation will be heard in silence.

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

We will, of course, take on any practical suggestions as we do, and we go through proper processes of funding. The last time there was a change in government, in December 2013, with this Leader of the Opposition as health minister, the first thing they did was cancel a $777 million national partnership agreement on closing the gap on Indigenous health. A $777 million closing the gap on Indigenous health national partnership agreement that was in place—ripped out as part of that budget. They then, in 2014, refused to provide ongoing funding for 38 Aboriginal children and family centres.

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

Order! The Leader of the National will cease interjecting.

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

They cut $10 million from the National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services Forum. They defunded the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples.

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

Order! The Leader of the Nationals will go close to being warned.

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

They abolished the Prime Minister's Indigenous Business Policy Advisory Group, and in their first budget they cut $165 million from Indigenous health programs. That's this bloke's record when it comes to Indigenous health. The bloke who walked out on the apology walked away from funding Indigenous programs.

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

Order! The Prime Minister's time has concluded.

Opposition members interjecting—

The member for Deakin and the member for Riverina will cease interjecting!