Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. Last week the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee released findings from its inquiry into missing and murdered First Nations women and children. I want to take the time to acknowledge and thank committee members for their important work on this matter as well. Can the minister outline the importance of this inquiry and the stories shared by First Nations women and their families?

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

I thank Senator Stewart for her question. I welcome the report tabled last week from the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee. The inquiry has shone a light on a harrowing set of stories experienced by First Nations women and children. I know the Senate inquiry held a large number of hearings across the nation, and I take the time to acknowledge the Chair, Senator Scarr, and the Deputy Chair, Senator Green, and, in particular, the passion and determination of Senator Cox.

I want to thank the many families and organisations who gave evidence at the hearings and to acknowledge the unspeakable pain behind every story shared as part of the inquiry—to acknowledge the real and significant grief experienced by families and entire communities. To those who have come forward to share their experiences with the committee: I want to assure you that we see you and we hear you; we hear your stories and we certainly see your pain. It takes bravery to share these stories and it takes great strength. We know that families have been seeking answers for a very long time, some for many decades—over 50 years. We thank you for sharing your experiences with the committee. I also thank the committee members for your dedication to listening to these stories and for delivering a set of recommendations for the government to consider.

There are many recommendations, spanning a number of critical areas, that need to be addressed. Our government is committed to carefully working through the recommendations in this inquiry.

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

Senator Stewart, first supplementary?

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister outline the government's approach to considering the recommendations made in the inquiry report?

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

Our government will carefully work through the recommendations put forward. I will certainly work closely with my colleagues across the government, with the Attorney-General and with the Minister for Social Services as a starting point. We will take the time to consider the recommendations put forward.

The report makes clear the scale of the problem experienced by First Nations women—experiences of violence, compounded by racism and the very institutions that are meant to help. We know First Nations women continue to experience disproportionately high levels of violence and First Nations women are 34 times more likely to be hospitalised and six times more likely to die from family and domestic violence than non-Indigenous women across the country—horrific figures.

We are working, and determined, to turn these figures around. Strong and safe First Nations families are a key focus of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

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

Senator Stewart, second supplementary?

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. Can the minister explain the government's approach to reducing family and domestic violence in First Nations communities?

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

We know there is no one, single, isolated factor contributing to the experience of family violence for First Nations people, and it is critical that national policies are responsive to the multifaceted experiences faced by First Nations women and children, including the ongoing impacts of colonisation, racism and intergenerational trauma that compound experiences of violence.

The national plan includes a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander action plan. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory council, made up of respected First Nations women and men with experience in this sector, led the development of the standalone action plan. The action plan is supported by $194 million to fund specific actions and support the safety of First Nations women and children, like funding the family violence prevention legal services and increasing prevention services, programs and campaigns for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.