Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Its meaning includes 'coming together after a struggle'. It is about bringing people together, and it is disappointing to see Senator Cash again—notwithstanding her leadership position—leading the charge to divide the country. What I would also say about treaty is to make the point that the Prime Minister made:

Well, Treaty is occurring. There's 400 Indigenous nations in this country. So, we're not talking about centralised operations here.

I think that is a response to Senator Cash's point. But I would also make this point, which I made last week, but no doubt Senator Cash didn't want to hear it: treaty is being progressed with bipartisan support in Queensland. Treaty is being progressed in Victoria with bipartisan support. It is being progressed in the Northern Territory and, in fact, in Tasmania, where a Liberal government has established a pathway to truth-telling and treaty. These are all good things.

I think it is disappointing that those on the other side continue, in the face of so much to gain from this process, to seek to ensure that they talk about everything but a voice to the parliament. It is disappointing, and I wish that some more senior people had joined the Prime Minister at Garma and had the opportunity to engage with leaders of First Nations on this issue to understand why this invitation has been made and why it matters to our country.