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

I actually just said that the government is considering the recommendations of that report, which go to the matters that your bill was concerned with. It is the very spirit of the principles that underpin the declaration that mean we as a government will ensure we take the time to engage and consult with First Nations peoples in a deliberate and meaningful manner to help inform our response to the recommendations. To do otherwise would be entirely inconsistent with the very principles of the UN declaration. We must take the time to get this right. The report gave some very important recommendations in relation to the rights of First Nations people. I think our government has shown a very firm commitment to the rights of First Nations people in Australia, and we intend to back up that commitment through properly considering this report.