Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

As I mentioned on the first question, this is a matter of urgency. The decision in the court, known as the McGlade decision, was made on 2 February, and the government moved to introduce legislation just under two weeks after that. A Senate committee was held which made a number of recommendations which the government has taken on board.

Senator Brandis, Senator Scullion and Senator Dodson—I do recognise the work of Senator Dodson—held a round table in Melbourne on 27 April with a number of registered native title claimants and their registered bodies. The result of that meeting was that consensus view—that letter to the government in support of these changes. What is holding us up?

On radio this morning, Mr Warren Mundine said that we need to get this on now, today, otherwise we are going to delay and delay it, and more Australian jobs are going to be delayed, and economic advantage for Australia and more opportunity for Indigenous jobs will be at risk. That is the view of Indigenous people and we should respect their views in this place and get on with the job we are here to do. (Time expired)