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

WATT (—) (): I, too, love this country, and I'm sure you do as well, Senator. One of the reasons I support recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of Australia in our Constitution and establishing a Voice to Parliament is because I love this country and because I do think that the First Peoples of this country deserve a direct say, through the Voice, in being able to make representations to government.

I'm not in the habit of describing anyone as second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth peoples, but it is a matter of historical record that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are our First Peoples. I thought that was the coalition's position as well but I'm starting to wonder if that is right because you seem to be uncomfortable with this idea.