Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. Today the Prime Minister spoke about learning from the injustices and mistakes of the past in his Closing the Gap statement. The 2023 referendum on a voice to parliament highlighted the need for truth-telling to combat the misinformation peddled by the coalition, which continues to be a political football in the culture wars of those campaigning for their seats in the 2025 federal election. Minister, why is your government abandoning the important 2022 commitment you made to federal processes for truth-telling and treaties, which are actually able to unite and heal this country?

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

Thank you, Senator Cox. As I answered in my previous response to Senator Price—but perhaps the Senate didn't hear me—I have said on numerous occasions in regards to our next steps: we have never moved away from the principles of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. What we are waiting for is the Senate inquiry that Senator Cox is a part of along with Senator Stewart and many other senators here. We know that we want to hear what the Australian people have to say through that Senate inquiry, and I'm looking forward to seeing what recommendations come from that.

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

Senator Cox, first supplementary?

Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Previously, the government allocated a budget line item for the establishment of a federal makarrata commission, which you previously campaigned for when in opposition. What is your government's plan in relation to the implementation of the outstanding elements of the Statement from the Heart and its relationship to closing the gap for First Nations people?

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

We campaigned on a lot of issues in the 2022 election. We campaigned to get rid of CDP. We campaigned to go to a referendum, which we did. We campaigned on many things that those opposite still do not support. We have come into this term knowing that the cost of living has been an incredibly important area for all Australians. We've worked on that, while those opposite, mind you—

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

Minister McCarthy, please resume your seat. Senator Cox?

Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question, if you can draw the minister to it, was about the allocated budget line item for a federal makarrata.

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

Thank you, Senator Cox. I will draw the minister back to the question.

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

In terms of the question from Senator Cox, as I said in my previous response, we have not moved away from the principles of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. We are genuinely waiting to see the outcomes of the inquiry that was put forward to this Senate by Senator Cox.

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

Senator Cox, second supplementary?

Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian Greens' national polling on truth and justice highlights that at least 30 per cent of Australians are not even aware of truth telling and its importance to First Nations people and the history of this country because it's not in our educational curriculum. Will your government vote for the Greens' federal truth and justice bill when its inquiry is finished and it comes into the chamber for voting?

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

I understand that the inquiry has received hundreds of submissions so far. I certainly understand that you've held a number of hearings across the country, and we will, like we do with all reports by senators in this place, wait until your recommendation comes to the Senate. We'll obviously wait to see what Australians are saying to the inquiry.