Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

As we come towards the conclusion of this farcical debate here, I think it's important to note the comments by Senator Hanson-Young, which I certainly agree with. I want to put on the record the absolute disappointment that the people of the Northern Territory have in not even hearing from the minister in terms of which organisations she has spoken to in the last few hours in order to get this amendment through and in order, obviously, to get the deal through that she has done with Centre Alliance. We heard that from Senator Lambie as well, the fact that the minister had been doing that.

I think it's an absolute disgrace that the people of the Northern Territory cannot get the answers from you in relation to that conversation, that deal that you've made. It's also an absolute disgrace on the part of Centre Alliance for not having the courage of their conviction, if this is what they truly believed and was the way they were always going to go, to really address this Senate and in particular to talk to the people of the Northern Territory.

I have thanked Senator Patrick and Senator Lambie for taking the time to visit the Northern Territory, to listen to people and to respond to them directly in what they were thinking and planning to do. Rebekha Sharkie MP in the lower house was also invited to come to the Northern Territory. She took up that offer, and at the last minute was unable to come; however, she sent her staff. Again, the people of the Northern Territory were very thankful for that.

They took the time—over a week—along with Senator Lambie, to talk to the Tangentyere Council, the council that is responsible for the town camps around Alice Springs, to talk to the Tangentyere women and the women's group—Rebekha Sharkie's staff were a part of that—and also then to travel. We went out to the western Macs, out to the communities. Through the representation of Rebekha Sharkie's staff, the people of the Northern Territory, in particular Central Australia, were able to express directly their absolute concerns about the cashless debit card.

So it is an deeply disappointing and a complete betrayal of the people of the Northern Territory by Centre Alliance. There has been no discussion, no respect in conversation, to even bring this as something that Centre Alliance was going to do. People may say, 'That's politics.' But what it really says more than anything is how desperate this government is, how desperate this government is to keep a failed policy—one that has proven no evidence that it actually works. The minister herself has stood up tonight and talked about anecdotal evidence. We can all say that. But what we expected in this Senate was a far greater depth of respect and of that evidence coming forward. Like the cowards that you are, you've scurried off and made the deals. You haven't even talked to the people of the Northern Territory, Minister. You haven't even said who you've spoken to in the last few hours in order to bring this last-minute amendment into the Senate.