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

I seek leave to move a motion as circulated relating to the removal of the chair of the Central Land Council.

Leave is not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice standing in the name of the Leader of the Nationals in the Senate, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to allow a motion relating to the removal of the chair of the Central Land Council to be moved and determined immediately.

I'm utterly gobsmacked that the Minister for Indigenous Australians had no idea that the chairperson of the Central Land Council was removed from his position last night under very concerning circumstances. I find it utterly ridiculous in fact that the minister had no knowledge of this occurring, especially by 2 pm the day after, right before question time, when I sought answers from the minister.

This is the correspondence I received from the chairperson. It says: 'Dear Senator Nampijinpa Price, I write to inform you of the outcome of the Central Land Council meeting held yesterday in Tennant Creek, where my position as chairperson was terminated effectively immediately. I'm an Arrernte elder who accepted this position with a view that I would be able to make a difference in the lives of our Indigenous mob'—

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

Senator Nampijinpa Price, you've moved a suspension motion, so you really do need to be addressing your remarks to why there should be a suspension.

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

And I'm absolutely getting there, President.

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

With respect, Senator, you need to start there, not get there. Minister Gallagher?

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

On a point of order seeking clarification. It seems that Senator Nampijinpa Price is going to read out a statement that we earlier denied leave for, and we denied leave on the grounds that it named a number of individuals who have not been afforded any ability to respond to some of the allegations that I saw in that. Our concern is about using parliamentary privilege to name those individuals, but it looks like Senator Nampijinpa Price is going on to do that. I seek your guidance of whether there is a response to that.

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

Thank you, Minister. I am advised by the clerk to caution Senator Nampijinpa Price about how she uses privilege, and to bear in mind the comments the government made earlier. It's entirely up to you, Senator Nampijinpa Price, but I do remind you that you need to be relevant to why we need to suspend business.

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

Thank you very much, President. During question time the minister could not confirm whether she knew about what occurred at the Central Land Council, and that she had sought a briefing but could not confirm whether an investigation would be conducted. I would like to continue, therefore, my remarks with regard to how the chairperson of the Central Land Council was removed.

They said, 'So the meeting was delayed as, of course, the deputy chair had arrived late on 17 September.'

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

Senator Nampijinpa Price, I am going to remind you again: you've moved a suspension, so what you need to be informing the Senate about is why that suspension is so urgent that it needs to interrupt the business of the afternoon.

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

Thank you, President, and, again, this is an urgent matter because the conduct of the Central Land Council toward the chair of the Central Land Council appears to be corrupt and needs an investigation. Again, the chair was asked to leave the room on three separate occasions. Further, his legal team was shown little courtesy when his barrister was closed out mid-sentence during a delivery to the land council's meeting.

A Central Land Council delegate for region 1 had threatened the delegates, should they not cast a vote, they would lose their position within the Central Land Council as delegates. She also went on to say, 'So you mob need to place your vote or you will lose your position on the Central Land Council.' This sounds like corruption to me. The chair was subject to seriously unfair treatment and was given limited opportunity to give his case beyond a few very leading questions. The meeting was called in Tennant Creek, away from the chair's supporter base but where those who were attempting to remove him had a huge supporter base.

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

Senator Nampijinpa Price, you have again gone into a statement about the land council. You've moved a suspension, so I do need to hear you make reference as to why a suspension is urgent and necessary at this point.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order—the content of Senator Nampijinpa Price's demonstration of why this is urgent I think does require a lot of context. There are a lot of senators in this chamber that don't understand the issues, and I think on that basis it is important that we have this. We have had suspensions on far broader issues in the past, and, while you've cautioned Senator Nampijinpa Price, I think it is important that we do have these details so we can make an informed decision on this question.

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

Senator Duniam, I do appreciate your point that we've had broad discussions. If you note my record, I have always brought senators back to the suspension. We can't get into the habit of using a suspension to make a point that you wanted to make when you sought the leave. When you use a suspension, I expect all senators to explain to the chamber why a suspension of business for the rest of the afternoon, an hour or whatever it might be is necessary. I appreciate this may be a broad-ranging debate, but I have cautioned Senator Nampijinpa Price a number of times. I am yet to hear why we need to suspend the business of the Senate to deal with this matter, so that is what I am asking the senator to address.

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

Once again, this is an urgent matter because these issues lead to violence in remote Indigenous communities, which this chamber should be absolutely concerned with and which the Minister for Indigenous Australians should absolutely be concerned with. Individuals being treated the way that the chair was treated this chamber should be absolutely concerned with. That is why we need to be suspending these motions. That is why we need to be ensuring that this motion is passed in this Senate. With all the talk about care for Indigenous Australians from this chamber—from the government across here—they're doing everything they can to shut this voice down, and certainly the voice of the now former chair of the Central Land Council. The minister should have well known what had occurred last night at their meeting or after their meeting either last night, like I was informed, or this morning. If not, then that's a dereliction of duty, as far as I'm concerned, on behalf of the Central Land Council to ensure that the minister is fully informed of what occurred.

I believe the treatment of the chairman of the Central Land Council—having been terminated effective immediately and taken outside and had his car emptied in front of other delegates—to be a matter that is urgent to this chamber. This chamber needs to take this matter very seriously, as we have called over and again for inquiries into land councils, which the Greens and this government continue to deny for people who are the most marginalised people in this country. I'm sorry, but building homes for these people is not good enough. Getting to the bottom of why there is corruption is what we need to do, which is our responsibility—the government's responsibility—and this responsibility is not being taken up. So this is why I believe this motion needs to be passed and why I believe an investigation needs to be conducted into the Central Land Council and other land councils.

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

The government won't be supporting the suspension of standing orders, and I don't believe that Senator Nampijinpa Price seeks that either. She seeks a different outcome, which is to read out what she was denied in question time today. We raised our concerns about this. Senator Nampijinpa Price in question time today raised a question to the minister about something that occurred yesterday. It is fair and reasonable for the minister to be afforded time to understand the issues that Senator Nampijinpa Price seeks to prosecute. This motion seeks not only to avoid the concerns or the denial of tabling a document in question time—to get around that—but then requires the minister to come up tomorrow to provide an explanation on something that happened last night. It's abusing the forms and processes of this chamber.

Honourable Senator:

An honourable senator interjecting—

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

It absolutely is. Had you seen this? Had you seen the statement that was sought to be tabled? It absolutely is. In question time you raised an issue. The minister would be taking advice on this.

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

No, the Central Land Council abused their processes—the blood is on your hands!

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

Order. Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Hanson-Young, why are you on your feet?

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Because of the accusation—

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

Senator Hanson-Young, you need to be standing on a point of order. If you have an issue you wish to raise then seek the call to do it, but, right now, if you're standing, it's on a point of order.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are accusations being thrown across the chamber that should be withdrawn.

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

That is not a point of order.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

'Blood on hands'—

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

That is not a point of order. I will ask Senator Nampijinpa price, if she made comments in relation to senators within the chamber, if she would withdraw those comments.

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

When we fail to do anything to combat—

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

Senator Nampijinpa Price, please resume your seat. I remind senators—

Senator Wong, order. I remind senators: when I ask you to withdraw your comments, I want you to stand and simply withdraw without making any further reference.

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

If it assists the chamber, I withdraw.

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

Thank you. Minister Gallagher.

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

Thank you. I move:

That the question be put.

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

The question is that the motion as moved by Senator Gallagher, that the question be put, be agreed to.

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

The question is that the motion to suspend, as moved by Senator Nampijinpa Price, be agreed to.