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 Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister honour his promise to deliver treaty and truth-telling?

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

I thank the underchallenged member for Bradfield and shadow minister for his question that is actually about the Uluru Statement from the Heart. On a day when these issues are very important, it is quite extraordinary that they're now going to go past three o'clock without asking a question about a $107 billion package that we have before this parliament. They're looking for anything else to talk about—

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

Order, the Leader of the Opposition will pause and cease interjecting. The Prime Minister will return to the question.

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

We put the referendum to the Australian people for a Constitutional recognition of First Nations people through the method that they asked for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, after a five-year consultation process leading up to 2017. That was—

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! There are far too many interjections. The House is now on a general warning.

An honourable member: Will you tell the truth?

I don't know who made that interjection. I just ask all members to show some restraint and respect. I give the call to the Prime Minister.

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

That was because we listened to what Indigenous Australians told not to this government but the former government in 2017. They were listened to by the former Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Ken Wyatt, a man of honour and a man of integrity, and someone who stood up for his beliefs. Both sides went to election after election committing to advance that cause. The referendum was put to the Australian people; it was not successful, and I respect that outcome. I got asked a range of times about Treaty—seriously, mate.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order.

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

Order, the Prime Minister will pause. Order! The Prime Minister was mentioning the word Treaty, which was in the question, so I will listen to the member's point of order and he will need to clearly state it—that means state what the point of order is, don't just say what you want to say.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's on relevance. The question was about truth-telling—

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

Resume your seat. The question was about that, but it was also, 'Will he honour his promise to deliver Treaty and truth-telling?' If the Prime Minister is mentioning the word 'Treaty', and that is in the question, he really couldn't be any more relevant. I will listen to the Prime Minister's answer. At this stage he is being directly relevant and that is not a point of order.

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

This question was asked last year on a number of occasions. I indicated the Commonwealth certainly is not in any negotiations on Treaty. Indeed, Treaty implies two sides negotiating and coming to an agreement. That's what occurs. Various state governments are undertaking that work. I note that the Liberal Party in various states has changed its position—in New South Wales I think that process is continuing but, it's occurring at the state level. (Time expired)