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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Gallagher. One of the key architects of the government's Voice to Parliament Thomas Mayo said that First Nations groups should 'punish politicians that ignore our advice'. Does the minister agree with this statement?

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

The government has been clear that the referendum is about recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution through the Voice. It's about recognition and listening: about recognising the 65,000 years of shared history and culture that we should all be very proud of and about setting up the Voice so that we can improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by making sure that they are heard. We have seen some of the best of this approach and some of the concerns raised through the debate in this chamber over the past week or so, but I think all of us, now that that bill has passed, need to proceed with the discussion about the referendum with respect and care for each other and seize the opportunity that comes from the generous Uluru Statement from the Heart about working together for a better future. That is something that the government are keen to do. We are focused on it.

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

Senator Gallagher, please resume your seat. Senator Canavan?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam President, I have a point of order on relevance. The question was very clearly related to some particular comments reported this week. I don't think the minister has gone anywhere near responding to those at this stage.

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

Thank you, Senator Canavan. Minister Wong?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order: I also make the point that Senator Gallagher is appropriately responding within the portfolio she represents to what has been put to her. I appreciate that those opposite wish to go after people outside of this chamber, but that is actually not within her portfolio. She is responding appropriately within the portfolio she is representing.

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

I believe that the minister is being relevant. I will continue listening carefully to her response. Minister Gallagher.

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

Thank you very much. As I was saying, the Voice is about recognition and listening. It's a moment that's bigger than politics. It's about moving the country forward together. As senators know from the debate we had over the past week, the Voice will be an advisory body. It will be made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, who will give advice to government on issues that affect their community. It's that simple. It's the process from years of discussion, consultation and hard work by those on the working group and others, including those involved at Uluru in 2017. It is a patient and gracious ask of Australia. We know that the Voice will help to close the gap by giving communities a say in the matters that affect them so that better policies can be made. (Time expired)

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

Senator Nampijinpa Price, first supplementary?

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

I note the minister's failure to back away from the statement. The government claims that the Voice to Parliament proposal is modest, yet, as per recent reporting, Thomas Mayo also said, 'We keep going, we maintain this momentum, until we change the system, until we tear down the institutions that harm our people.' Does the minister agree with these comments?

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

I don't want my answer to be misrepresented. I haven't seen the comments that Senator Nampijinpa Price referred to, but I have listened to Mr Mayo in the past. I have always found him an articulate and passionate advocate for the Voice. I accept that that is not a voice that Senator Nampijinpa Price agrees with, but this referendum is an opportunity to bring the country together not to divide it. It's about working together, showing each other respect, listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about matters that are relevant to them, about policies that are relevant to them, around programs that are relevant to them. It's also, importantly, about recognising our First Australians and our proud history in our Constitution. It is that simple.

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

Senator Nampijinpa Price, your second supplementary question?

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

Will the minister condemn Mr Mayo's comments, or is it true that this is not a modest proposal and instead is a divisive, harmful change to our nation's rule book?

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

I don't agree with Senator Nampijinpa Price's view on the Voice or on the process around the referendum. I categorically reject that view. I think this is an opportunity to bring the country together, to say yes to recognition, to say yes to the Voice and to unify the country, and, as the Uluru Statement from the Heart says, to say yes to a better future. It is bigger than politics. Now that that bill has passed this place this is a matter for the Australian people. It's a matter for which they deserve respect, they deserve honesty and they deserve the correct information so that when they go to cast their vote they are voting on accurate information—not misinformation that might suit the purposes of the 'no' campaign but isn't an honest reflection of what the Uluru Statement from the Heart sought or what the Voice will be.