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, while your government was distracted by the Voice, routine business in the portfolio fell away. The Community Development Program will not be replaced this term, Aboriginal Benefits Account grants were paused and grants from Aboriginal Investment NT have spent more time closed than open.

The Productivity Commission, in July last year, highlighted how the government does not even know how many Indigenous communities have access to clean drinking water. Minister, why are practical outcomes for Indigenous Australians not a priority for your government?

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

I thank Senator Price for the question. It is actually incorrect. We have started the remote jobs program across many regions of Australia. In fact, we said, when we came into government, that we would get rid of the Community Development Program, which is what we've spent the last two years doing in terms of a transition. We said that we would do that. We've done that in partnership with the First Nations working group, in terms of remote jobs.

We know that the program that we're putting forward will create meaningful jobs in remote communities. In fact, I've just been having a look the at the programs across in Western Australia and the Kimberley and also in Central Australia, around the Alice Springs town camps. When I visited Kununurra, just a few weeks ago, I had the privilege to meet participants who are already benefitting from this program. I met Nathalia, who's working at the Waringarri radio and doing a terrific job there. She works in all aspects of the station, including presenting a show on staying healthy in the Kimberley, and she's already a role model for her family and community.

I also met Brendan, Efren and Tremain who are working at Wunan Maintenance Services at the tourist accommodation in town, Lily Lagoon Resort. They've employed 17 people there, and they're doing a terrific job. Through these real jobs, we're already seeing what the impact of the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program, RJED, will be on individuals, businesses and their communities. Applications are actually open now for round 2 of RJED, and I certainly encourage all eligible organisations from Cape York to the Kimberley and everywhere in between to apply.

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

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, first supplementary?

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

Minister, what will the government publish first: how its makarrata commission will be structured or how many Indigenous communities have access to clean drinking water?

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

Thanks, Senator Price, for the question. We've certainly focused very much on water security, along with food security, today. In terms of water security, we know that it's important to have good drinking water in our communities. Minister Plibersek has identified a number of communities, and I'm more than happy to provide the names of those communities to you.

We have provided that in terms of the ability to build houses and to live in communities with good drinking water but we know that if we want to roll out our 30 dialysis units of four chairs across Australia, we need to have proper water functioning so that the dialysis units can be used. So I'm pleased to report to the Senate that we have a solid program, and we are building on that program, and, if we get the opportunity for a second term, we will continue to roll those out.

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

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, second supplementary?

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

Minister, will there be funding for a makarrata commission in the upcoming budget?

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

I thank the senator for her question. In fact, these are questions that I am asked at estimates and they have been responded to, and we have spoken about makarrata. What I've said to the opposition, both in estimates and here in the Senate, is that there is a Senate inquiry currently underway and it's important for us to see the outcome of that inquiry. I have said that on the record here in the Senate as well as at estimates.