Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Community Services, Senator Scullion—and a good senator he is too—from the Northern Territory. Will the minister outline the Indigenous policy directions of the coalition government that are building stronger communities? Is the minister aware of any alternative policies?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I hope you are not going to politicise this, Senator.

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for the question and note his longstanding interest in Indigenous affairs, particularly in his home state of Queensland. This government has a proud history of long-term policies for creating economic activity as well as policies that ensure the capacity for Indigenous individuals and communities to capitalise on the wonderful economic boom that the great management of the economy by this government has created. This policy has been widely embraced by Indigenous Australians, who share our belief that all Australians should get equitable access to the benefits of this economy. Whilst we respect cultural practices and we support the symbolic actions of other policies, our main focus has to be on practical measures. The symbolic gestures are no help to those people without jobs, adequate housing, adequate access to medical facilities and access to other opportunities.

It is such a pity that Labor fought the government at almost every turn on the implementation of these policies and the legislative changes that came behind them. However, I think credit should be given where credit is due. I noticed some comments from Jenny Macklin, the opposition spokesperson on Indigenous affairs, recently and I commend the Labor Party for the turn that appears to have occurred in their Indigenous policy. I say that with some confidence—the turn has come. They simply looked around and could not find their own policies so they have seized upon ours—practical reconciliation. I understand the depoliticising—

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You don’t use that term any more. You are behind the times.

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When I stood up to answer this question the Leader of the Opposition interjected, ‘I hope you are not going to politicise it, Senator.’ I am certainly not doing so. The point I am making is that if you are going to move fundamentally towards our policies you cannot just leave out some important aspects of them because of some political notions.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why not?

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Because bringing back the son of ATSIC is not about the interests of Indigenous Australians. That is a fundamental point. There were a lot of aspects—

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You want to hand pick-them!

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Scullion, I ask you to ignore the interjections and address the chair. Senator Evans, as I said to you earlier today on more than one occasion, shouting across the chamber is disorderly.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I raise a point of order. I always accept your advice but when the minister starts shouting and pointing at me it does not seem unreasonable that I respond. I ask you to think about that when making future rulings.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Evans, I asked you to stop interjecting and I have been continually doing that today. I remind you, once again, and everybody else in this place, that shouting across the chamber is disorderly.

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a very important issue. I was really excited to see that the Labor Party were making a turn towards reality, that they had turned to the coalition for some support in this regard and taken our policy. We have no problem with that because it is the most sensible policy about the place. But it does seem to be extremely sad that, when we have—

Trish Crossin (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We might actually want to consult with Indigenous people!

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Oh, it is Senator Crossin, the chair of the Senate select committee on ATSIC who—

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Minister! Ignore the interjections and return to the question. Senator Crossin, come to order!

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

confessed, when chairing that committee, that there was very little support for ATSIC. Obviously the policy does not go to asking their own people who may reflect upon those things. There have been some interjections—Mr President, I know you have asked me not to take the interjections from the Leader of the Opposition—about hand-selected people. Frankly, I think all Australians are sick and tired of those on the other side knocking the National Indigenous Council. They are doing an absolutely outstanding job. They are fantastic Indigenous leaders and they are providing this government with excellent advice. It is that advice that we can count on continually to ensure that our policies reflect the wishes of Indigenous Australians.

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. With regard to the symbolic gestures that you were referring to, Minister, can you outline how the policies that you are providing are going to provide a better outcome?

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for the supplementary. The philosophy that, for some reason or other, we need to have some differential in the politics of looking after Indigenous Australians I think is a pretty cynical approach. The symbolism of saying, ‘Let’s have another Indigenous body that somehow is representative of Indigenous Australians; let’s build another ATSIC,’ simply to have some sort of cynical differential for some political purpose is not having the interests of the Indigenous Australians at heart. I call on the other side simply to completely embrace the policies of this government and get on with the job of representing the best interests of Indigenous Australia.