Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

There is certainly no disrespect intended at all whatsoever to anyone in this chamber. And there's certainly no disrespect intended to any Anangu or any First Nations people who've been involved or who are not involved. Either way, there's certainly no disrespect at all.

I think it's important to clarify a few things here. One is the journey of those in terms of the Uluru dialogues. With the many dialogues they had across the country in 2017, leading up to the gathering on Anangu country, it was an important journey for them. On those signatures that you refer to—we spoke with Sammy Wilson just recently as well, through the referendum engagement group and through the working group, who took us around Muti and different places to reaffirm the commitment that they have to the Uluru statement. It's fine that we all differ, that we come at this from different areas and that we have different family groups who may say what they need to, but at no point on this side of the chamber has there been any disrespect shown towards any of those family groups. I want to put that on the record. I think that's really important.

In terms of the questions around matters, the Voice's broad remit is to make representations, and we know that these matters that impact First Nations people will be what the Voice will raise. It can be done. Whether it's housing, education or the areas that Senator Liddle spoke about in terms of the distances and the cost of living, common sense tells us that these will be issues that no doubt those representatives on the Voice, should we be successful in getting the referendum up, will want to have input into. But can I reassure the Senate that at no point is this about any disrespect at all to First Nations people.