Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I think that it's quite offensive. You've been upset about the way that I've described some of the questions here, yet you go on to describe some of the answers as pathetic, so I would ask that you follow the same standard in terms of your questions if you don't think that they can be described in certain ways. Let's not forget that about half an hour ago you were asking me who the First Peoples of Australia were, when (a) that is a matter of historical record and (b) the introductory words of proposed section 129 state very clearly that it is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are the First Peoples of Australia. So pardon my surprise if I question the motives of asking me to explain what 'matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' might be when that is pretty self-explanatory.

But, to assist you, Senator Cash, the matters may relate to Aboriginal peoples, Torres Strait Islander peoples or both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The phrase is intended to be broad and to include the following, and I have said this already at least once, maybe not twice: matters specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and matters relevant to the Australian community, including general laws on measures but which affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples differently to members of the Australian community.

Now, I know there are members of the opposition who are out there trying to whip up fear and concern by suggesting that the Voice might go well beyond that and might make all sorts of recommendations about matters unrelated to Aboriginal people, when the words of the constitutional proposal are clear. I know there are members of the opposition who are also out there trying to whip up fear, suggesting that the Voice may have decision-making capacities. The facts are clear. The facts are set out in proposed section 129. They're very straightforward, they're very easy to understand and they don't deserve to be misrepresented in the way they continually are.