Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

nator SCARR (—) (): I'll be reasonably brief, because I want to give Senator Green an opportunity before the 5.30 adjournment to provide some comments as well. Can I compliment Senator Thorpe for bringing this matter before the Senate. The purpose of my contribution is to inform the Senate that the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee References Committee, as senators might remember, is conducting an inquiry into missing and murdered First Nations women and children, and we are progressing our work in that regard.

We have conducted two in camera hearings in Perth and Northern New South Wales, where we've had the opportunity to hear evidence from families who have been impacted by the events which Senator Thorpe alluded to. Can I say that hearing that evidence from those families has made clear to us that for each and every name that Senator Thorpe mentions there is a family—there are parents, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, nephews and nieces—and the trauma arising from those events is carried across the decades as people seek the justice that Senator Thorpe referred to.

The committee is working through a process where we're hearing from the families of victims, and the process we're undertaking is that after we have a hearing where we hear from the families, we subsequently have a hearing where we hear from the authorities, so we can put to the authorities the evidence which we've taken—in many cases, absolutely horrifying evidence; just incredibly disturbing—to inquire into what action has been undertaken.

We're looking to issue a progress report by the end of the year and continue working diligently to come up with recommendations to address the real issues that Senator Thorpe has alluded to. I thank all members of the committee, including the deputy chair, Senator Green, and also Senator Thorpe, who has provided really valuable assistance in terms of the committee's work. Can I also reassure senators that this is something which the committee is taking extraordinarily seriously and which we all have an obligation to take incredibly seriously, because, as I said, some of the evidence we have heard is deeply, deeply disturbing, and the trauma that has been experienced by families has continued across the decades. This is something we need to shine a bright light on.