Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Gallagher. Minister, I know you have had a pretty tough week, so all I want is a yes or no to the question, if you can, please. Does the Albanese Labor government acknowledge the existence of Indigenous identity fraud?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The way the Albanese government deals with Indigeneity is with a three-part test, which has been widely accepted and hasn't changed. We apply the following common law criteria for the purposes of determining eligibility for First Nations-specific services: that a person is—

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order: there is no reference to my question that was seeking an answer. Do you acknowledge the existence of Indigenous identity fraud?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Hanson. I think the minister is being relevant, and I will ask her to continue. But I will continue to listen very carefully. As you know, I can't direct the minister to answer, but I can draw her attention to the question if she is not being relevant. She is just a few seconds into the answer. I will listen carefully, and, if she is not being relevant, I will draw her attention to the question.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, because I think this does go to answering the question. In order to determine eligibility or to be eligible for First Nations-specific services, a person must be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as such by the community in which they live or have previously lived. This is a widely accepted test by government agencies, First Nations organisations and community organisations. It is a commonsense approach. The way it works in law is well established.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson, a first supplementary?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That was not an answer to my question. Considering the evidence that Indigenous identity fraud exists, and evidence has been brought to Minister Linda Burney's attention, what measures has the Albanese Labor government put in place to prevent, identify, investigate and prosecute Indigenous identity fraud?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, I am not across what Senator Hanson alleges has been provided to Minister Burney, but the approach that we take is a positive approach around how to test eligibility for First Nations services, and if that eligibility criteria isn't met—one of those three—then that eligibility would not be—

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not talking about eligibility. My question was what has been put in place to actually address the issues?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson, if you are raising the point of order then you need to stand and make the point of order clear. If you were raising a point of order, then the minister is being relevant to your question. Minister, please continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, the eligibility is as I set out. The government doesn't recognise identity fraud. I'm sure that Minister Burney is dealing with all of the matters that are raised with her in her role as Minister for Indigenous Australians carefully and competently, as she does with everything.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson, a second supplementary?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, not answered. Considering the evidence that Indigenous fraud exists, which has been reported numerous times, and in courts, will the Labor senators support my motion to refer this vital matter to an inquiry by the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee or any other committee? Are you prepared to actually address this problem that we have in Australia so that people who are actually of Aboriginal and Indigenous background can receive the benefits that many other Australians can't get? (Time expired)

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

(—) (): Firstly, the answer to the question is no, we will not support that. Secondly, we don't recognise identity fraud. Thirdly, I don't believe it is up to an individual in this place to decide who gets to be an Aboriginal person in this country. First Nations people have lived here for over 65,000 years. We should all be really proud of that, of sharing the same country with the longest continuing civilisation in this country. And the Albanese government's priority, apart from ensuring adequate funding, resources and co-design processes for services to support First Nations Australians, is to ensure recognition is done through constitutional amendment, through a Voice to this nation's parliament. That is our priority. We look forward to every Australian having the opportunity to cast a vote on that later this year. (Time expired)