Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Hansard source

In the two minutes that I have at this point I, too, concur with the sentiments expressed by Senator McAllister. I was appalled to hear the contributions from Senator Hanson today. But that is all I'll say on that matter because I'm not going to give it any further air.

I also think it's time that we heard the First Nations voice on closing the gap. Today in the House, we should have heard the voices of Mr Ken Wyatt and Ms Linda Burney. Tonight, in this place, in the Senate, the first voices we should have heard are those of Senator Dodson and Senator McCarthy. That's how it should be, and I hope that next year we can get better agreement. The fact that Senator McCarthy had to line up behind non-Indigenous speakers offended me greatly—I told her I was going to mention this, and I'm glad that I've put it on the record. If we are honest and sincere about listening, about a partnership and about First Nations people leading, then we haven't done it in this place and we didn't do it in the House today.

I'm deeply offended that my granddaughter, a young Gija from Turkey Creek in Western Australia—

Debate interrupted .