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

My understanding was that Minister Wyatt had made some public utterances in an interview on Monday. I can take you to the actual date rather than the day of the week. It was the beginning of the last week of sittings. We had two weeks of sittings, and it was the Monday that started it, somewhere in that period of time. I would have to check directly what date we became aware. These are not matters that we would think people would be particularly interested in. Obviously it is of interest to those opposite, but I am unable to assist them with the exact date and the exact time.

I can say that Minister Wyatt has been completely focused on the circumstances of our First Australians. He's was the one who, in May 2017, ensured that we have an investigation into the aged-care systems. He's the one who has been responsible for issuing 14 noncompliance notices and closing 14 aged-care centres in 16 months. He's the one who has formulated the new framework that ensures that we have the highest quality and the best possible auditing. He's the one that has ensured that the $300 million compliance system is now headed up by a commissioner with special powers to look after our most vulnerable. The minister has been responsible for all of those matters. When he came to the conclusion that the complexity of these matters and the vast increase in the number reporting as a consequence of his auditing process—