Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Siewert, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) Machado-Joseph Disease is a particularly cruel neurodegenerative condition, which has its highest prevalence in the world in East Arnhem Land, and

  (ii) the Machado-Joseph Disease Foundation was awarded a $10 million grant by the previous Government and it has never received this funding;

(b) acknowledges that the final of three payments of $500,000 to the Machado-Joseph Disease Foundation will be expiring in June; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to make good on the $10 million grant and provide a single payment of $500,000 to assist the Foundation.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave of one minute is granted.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government does not support this motion. The government does not support the use of royalty payments intended for Aboriginal communities to fund health services that governments should support. The Minister for Indigenous Affairs has already written to the MJD Foundation to advise that the government will not be appealing the Federal Court's decision and that the grant will be paid shortly. In addition, the government has been providing $500,000 a year to the MJD Foundation, more than the interest that will be earned from this inappropriate grant.

Question agreed to.