Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

Twelve months ago, this government was advocating a voice to parliament for Indigenous Australians. Of course they talk a big talk in terms of their attempt, their suggestion, that they would act with transparency, accountability—all of these big words that they like to throw around, particularly when it comes to engaging with Indigenous Australians and planning for the betterment of the lives of Indigenous Australians. However, they have a terrible record. We know that this government was funding the EDO, which was found by the Federal Court to have been exploiting traditional owners. However, despite this, they continued to think that clearly this sort of conduct, this sort of behaviour, is perfectly acceptable and would continue to fund the EDO.

Justice Charlesworth broadly criticised Dr O'Leary for having lied to the Tiwi Island witnesses, because he wanted his cultural-mapping exercise to be used in a way that would, of course, stop the pipeline. The problem with this Albanese government is that they are not actually interested in any level of transparency, accountability or consultation with Indigenous Australians on matters that relate to Indigenous Australians. We've heard all kinds of rhetoric around this. We have heard the Prime Minister himself say, in his passionate speech about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, that once you start to listen to Indigenous Australians then that is when we will get the results that are needed. Well, they've clearly demonstrated that they're not actually interested or prepared to listen and properly consult or be accountable for lack of consultation with Indigenous Australians right across the issues that concern us.

In their review of the EDO's conduct, this government didn't even know if traditional owners could make a submission to their review. It would be funny if it weren't so insulting and so ridiculous. They wax lyrical about their responsibilities, which, again, goes back to that issue of transparency. The reality that we know and that we've come to learn over and over again is that this simply is not true.

I think it's time for the minister to show what responsibility looks like and what transparency looks like and to fess up about how serious they are about engaging Indigenous Australians. As the shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, I'm acutely aware of their lack of responsibility in this space from moment to moment, from the action on the ground in my own home community of Alice Springs, and aware of those that they failed to be honest with about conversations that they're having with regard to issues like the rollout of the $250 million that's supposedly to help in Central Australia.

You've got a prime minister who flies in and flies out for photo opportunities in Indigenous communities such as the Binjari community to have the lovely backdrop of the community and of the housing to announce a new housing policy, while the Binjari Community Aboriginal Corporation stands there, waiting for their moment to have a conversation with the Prime Minister, who actually showed up in their community, only to be shoved to the side once the conference is done and dusted. Then, of course, the Prime Minister jumps in the car and runs away. Not good enough. More transparency is what needs to occur. (Time expired)