House of Representatives - QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE - Australian Constitution: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
Transcript
Date: 09 August 2023
Ms WARE (Hughes): My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Will the minister rule out financial payments being made by the Commonwealth as part of a treaty or makarrata process?
Ms BURNEY (Barton—Minister for Indigenous Australians): I thank the member for her question. She asked about one element of the Uluru statement, and I am very happy to respond to that. This government is absolutely focused on the referendum at the end of this year.
I am asked a question, as I said, that relates to the element of the Uluru statement that goes to agreement-making. There is much of that going on around the country. Treaty is being progressed in Queensland with bipartisan support. A treaty is being progressed in Victoria with bipartisan support. Peter Walsh, the leader of the Victorian Nationals, said:
The Liberals and Nationals are committed to advancing the Treaty process in Victoria …
And in Tasmania a Liberal government has established a pathway to truth-telling and treaty with bipartisan support. Jeremy Rockliff, the Liberal Premier of Tasmania, said:
We are committed to progressing truth-telling and treaty in true partnership with the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
Our priority is constitutional recognition through a voice, a voice that will help drive better results for Indigenous people. That is what the Australian people will vote for later this year.