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

I will do so in the interests of moving forward, but I would kindly remind senators to have a lot at 2017. We've seen times here when there has been a constant need to completely divide this Senate. We've certainly heard that, even in discussions today. So I would say to Australians listening that this matter before the Senate is absolute rubbish. It's a disgrace. It's beneath the Senate to even have this discussion here this afternoon. It shows a complete disregard for the First Nations people in this country, who've been here for over 65,000 years.

Like it or not, we are not going away. If anything, those voices will be even louder. I'm just reminding all senators, and I thank the millions of Australians who came out in support. I thank my colleagues who came out in support. I thank the Greens. I certainly thank those in the other house who came out in support.

It was a very simple request by First Nations people who gathered on Anangu country just asking to be heard. And guess who's the most disappointed in this? It's the three per cent that it impacted in this country. The other 97 per cent in this country can move on and get on with their lives. But for that three per cent the hurt is really deep. But guess what? First Nations people have been disappointed before, and we keep coming back.

I remind the Senate: please, all of you, all senators, let's watch out for the language that we use. One Nation, you won the referendum. Did you really need to bring this on?