Aboriginal Affairs

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:56): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General regarding Aboriginal affairs and Truth and Treaty.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: According to evidence provided by Mr Colin Marsh, the Director of the First Nations Voice Secretariat, during the Budget and Finance Committee:

The First Nations Voice Act was really intended to be the first step and it's written within the legislation that it would complement any other act designed to implement truth and treaty.

My questions for the Attorney-General and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs therefore are:

1. Can the minister confirm this statement?

2. What further work has begun on legislative reform towards Truth and Treaty?

3. Has the government begun consultation on the Treaty process and will consultation be just with the Voice or will it be broader?

4. What funding has been allocated for progressing Treaty negotiations and how will that be applied?

5. Finally, does the government intend to set a timeline for the full implementation of Treaty and, if so, what is that expected timeline?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (14:57): I thank the member for the questions. In relation to question 1, yes. In relation to question 2, none as yet. In relation to question 3, initially we will consult with the Voice about how we structure the process and then look at much wider consultation. I can't remember what question 4 was.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Funding will be determined once the structure of further steps are determined. In relation to the timeline and timeframes, absolutely no timeline has been set. We see in many areas where there are Treaty negotiations post colonisation that it takes a varying amount of time and often a long amount of time. In jurisdictions like British Columbia, they are decades into it. This is even in jurisdictions where treaties were initially started during colonisation, like New Zealand where the Waitangi process is still ongoing. So, no, we certainly haven't and will not be setting some sort of artificial timeline and we will look at how this is done historically.