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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-09-13 Daily Xml
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Question Time

Federal Voice to Parliament Referendum

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:01): My question is to the Premier. Is the Premier aware of Marcia Langton's comments made on 10 September and does he agree with them? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: In recent days, prominent Voice advocate Professor Langton has said that every time the no case raises one of their arguments, if you start pulling it apart, you get down to base racism or just sheer stupidity.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:02): I am more than happy to address the Leader of the Opposition's question. I will tell you what I do know. I haven't followed every single comment that has been made in respect of the referendum. I am following it as best as I can. I can't say I have read every transcript of every interview, but I am more than happy to make clear to the house that I am very aware that Marcia Langton has been an extraordinary advocate for the interests of Aboriginal people for many, many decades. She is an extraordinary woman and her contribution towards Indigenous affairs and the lives of Indigenous people I am more than happy to commend, and I would certainly hope that almost everyone in this chamber would be willing to commend.

In respect of the Voice more broadly, I think it is well known, and I hope it becomes increasingly known, that I am a very strong supporter for a yes vote indeed. I believe that an Indigenous Voice to our federal parliament has the power to be a very practical and instructive tool to result in better outcomes for the lives of Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people throughout the nation.

We definitively know that what we have tried to do up until this point hasn't worked and I for one don't believe the status quo is okay; that is to say, I support doing something different. History tells us that, where Aboriginal people have been able to make a contribution to policy development on matters that affect them, those policies tend to be more effectual. The Voice facilitates just that. It is an advisory committee. It does not bind the parliament, it is not a third chamber of the parliament, it is an advisory committee, and I would have thought that an advisory committee in this area of policy is a good thing.

I appreciate that throughout the course of this debate some people have changed their positions on this issue.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order from the member for Morialta, which I will hear.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Standing order 98: halfway through the question the Premier has answered that he is not aware of the comments. The rest of his reflections—

The Hon. P.B. Malinauskas interjecting:

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Well, in that case, sir, I would encourage you to draw the Premier back to the question, which is whether he agrees with the comments.

The SPEAKER: I will listen carefully. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: What I was saying was that I am aware of the fact—and, in fact, many people in this house are aware of the fact—that some people have changed their position on the benefits of a Voice to parliament. I am not aware of anyone on this side of the house having changed their position, but there are others who were powerful advocates previously—

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Order, member for Chaffey and the member for Florey! There is a point of order from the member for Morialta, which I will hear under 134.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Thank you, sir. Standing order 98 requires ministers to respond to the substance of the question. Taking the topic and going into broader debates, including particularly commentary on members of the opposition, is debate and it's ruled out by the standing orders.

The SPEAKER: Every speaker is of course permitted a degree of compare and contrast between positions that might be different with respect to major parties—as well context has been introduced. All that for the moment aside, we are two minutes in and I bring the Premier to the question.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. People throughout the country, sir, are entitled to form their own opinion in the lead-up to the referendum; indeed, every Australian will when they cast their vote. Some people may even change their opinion. They might do that for a range of reasons, but I hope that if they do that they are doing it not because they are prone to responding to the political winds of change, like we see others in this place have done, but rather that they do that from an informed perspective.

It is true that there is a degree of misinformation out in the community with respect to the referendum. I think that is desperately unfortunate. I think when Ms Langton refers to, as the Leader of the Opposition illuminated in his question—I agree there is a degree of misinformation out there in the community. I think that is unfortunate. I for one don't believe that every person who votes no on the referendum is a racist: quite the opposite. I think there might be some very good people who, for whatever reason, choose to vote no.

However, I do sympathise with any frustrations that those might have in the community towards the information that exists around the question that is before us, which in my view is very simple and hopefully is met with an answer of yes.

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