Jeannie Ferris (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Carr makes ridiculous remarks. He cannot control himself. I would like to think that he would listen to my contribution because I have some quite important words that might help him. I am very glad to see that both state and federal governments have been linked to this motion by Senator Bartlett today, because there would not be a person in this chamber who would not agree that this is an issue that should be a long way above any cheap political point scoring. Successive Australian governments and their state and territory counterparts have attempted in various ways to tackle issues of Aboriginal health and housing, but sadly they have had mixed results.

I would like to refer to one of the most thought-provoking contributions on this very vexatious and difficult issue that I have heard for a very long time. It was made at the 2005 Bennelong Society conference, which Senator Carr was bagging a few minutes ago. It was made by the now President of the Australian Labor Party, Mr Warren Mundine. However, he made the comments as an individual, an Aboriginal man extremely concerned about these issues. I would urge Senator Carr, Senator Marshall and any of those opposite who happen to be watching this debate to listen carefully to the passionate speech that Mr Mundine made to our Bennelong conference on Indigenous freedom and his very thoughtful speech about Indigenous issues in today’s society.