Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I am trying to be generous, Senator Abetz. I think it is a politically motivated attack rather than a serious debate about the needs of the Indigenous children. I restate that the Rudd Labor government has committed to the implementation of the Northern Territory intervention. It has continued the initiative of the former government. It has sought to continue to have bipartisan support for that approach.

I actually think we can make progress in Indigenous affairs but only if we have bipartisan support. I do not think any government of either persuasion can attack these issues unless it has the support of all political parties, the support of the community and I think, as importantly, the support of business because what we have learned over the years is that government on its own is not going to address these issues however well intentioned.

It is more than appropriate that senators can debate the evidence of the Northern Territory intervention. As I understand it the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Ms Macklin, will be doing a 12-month review of the intervention. We will get a much better handle on the progress, the impact and the results. We had some of those presented to us at the Senate estimates hearings. I am not sure whether you were there, Senator Scullion; I was there at the time and Senator Crossin, I think, was also there. There was some evidence about what was working and what was not working in terms of the intervention, but the 12-month review will provide us with better evidence as to how we take forward the intervention. I think Senator Crossin has apologised for her remarks appropriately. (Time expired)