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 for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. Minister, are you aware that a meeting of the executive was held last night where Mr Matthew Palmer was removed as chair of the Central Land Council? Were you advised of this intended action in advance? If not, when did you become aware of this action? And I seek leave to table correspondence from Mr Palmer relating to this matter, which has been distributed in the chamber.

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

Is leave granted? Senator Wong.

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

No, leave is not granted, but, if I could, I will make a short statement as to why. I've just been handed this; thank you for the courtesy. There are quite a number of adverse assertions about third parties. Usually, in the course of a committee hearing, those would be considered in more details, because, obviously, tabling it gives these allegations the protection of parliamentary privilege. We will consider it more closely, but I just wanted to reflect, Senator Nampijinpa Price, that there are obviously assertions here against a number of people, and it is a big step to put it into the parliament and give it privilege. We'd like the opportunity to consider that, and we'll have a discussion with you.

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

Thank you, Senator, for the question. I was certainly aware that the Central Land Council was having a meeting, but with regard to your question about Mr Palmer, no, I'm not and wasn't aware of that.

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

Minister, is the government satisfied that all proper processes as required under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, including the provision of interpreters and procedural fairness, have been followed in this instance and in the lead-up to it? On what grounds was this action taken? And does the government endorse the decision?

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

I will refer the senator to my previous response. I was unaware of her question or her knowledge about Mr Palmer in that question, so subsequent questions in relation to it are quite difficult to answer.

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

Senator Nampijinpa Price, second supplementary?

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

No doubt very difficult. Minister, are you aware of the disagreements between the CEO of the Central Land Council and the former chair? Were these the reasons for Mr Palmer's removal? If you don't know if these were, will you seek a full briefing on the matter from the Central Land Council, and will your department launch an investigation into this matter?

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

Clearly, if I was unaware that this was occurring with Mr Palmer, then that goes to the answer to your initial question. I've certainly sought a briefing in relation to all the land councils and their election processes, like what's happened with the Anindilyakwa Land Council. In terms of the Central Land Council, Northern Land Council and Tiwi Land Council, I always ask for briefings in relation to those land councils.