Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

As I was saying, I am delighted to report that, in terms of our department, not only is morale at an all-time high but they are absolutely delighted that they are now working for a government that has some absolute outcomes in mind. From those on the other side we inherited six years—when every single year the number of Aboriginal children going to school went backwards. Every single year it went backwards, to 10 per cent—less than when you started. We are absolutely determined to change that around. In terms of adults going to work, that went backwards. On communities being safer, I do not really have any statistics on that.

When they actually did make an investment, they invested $1.7 billion on ensuring that we did not have overcrowding. What happened? Absolutely nothing. The overcrowding is as bad as when they started. There was a complete mistake about SIHIP; a complete disaster on everything. Did we appoint an Aboriginal person? Did we have a legacy of smoke-signal apprentices? No. Their legacy is one of complete, abysmal failure. I can tell you that my department are delighted to work for a government that is actually getting something done.