Senator Nampijinpa Price talks to Peta Credlin on Credlin, Sky News

28 November 2023, 6:40pm AEDT

Subjects: Land Councils, Voice Polling and Indigenous Adoption

Peta Credlin
A new study out today by the Australian National University has found 87% of voters they believe, say that Indigenous Australians should have a voice or a say on matters affecting them, and 76% of No voters, says the ANU, think that Aboriginal people have deserved a voice on key policies and political decisions. A co-author of the study Nicholas Biddle says “our findings suggest it's not so much the presence of recognition but the model that was being presented to voters at the referendum that failed.” Joining me now to discuss this is Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, the wonderful Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. I have to say, Jacinta Price, we have missed you here on Credlin. I'm delighted to have your company as always. When I read those findings that accords with my sense of goodwill amongst Australians, for better outcomes for Aboriginal people. I think I disagree with Nicholas Biddle that that those sorts of results mean voters want a voice. I think they're saying they want Aboriginal people to have a say, sure. They want the voice to be people like you in the parliament in a way that all Australians are represented and we're not divided by race. What do you think?

Senator Nampijinpa Price
Look I’d have to agree, Peta. I think, the conversations that I have, the overflowing comments and emails and correspondence that I receive, suggest to me that Australians certainly did not want the voice proposal that the Albanese government had put on the table, but they do want ways forward, particularly for our most marginalized. And yeah, I don't agree that they are seeking a sort of another voice model, but perhaps more so that this government should be listening to those voices that they completely ignore, who have answers to a lot of problems that currently exist already. But I mean, that's how I see it. They want a practical way forward for Indigenous Australians and no more separatism.

Peta Credlin
What's disappointing is you know, in the immediate week after the referendum result, the Prime Minister basically dodged accountability. He wouldn't tell us if the Makarrata treaty commission was coming off the table, given the voice result, he dodged and hid behind the fact that Aboriginal leaders were in a period of mourning. And then obviously he was overseas and world events intervened. But surely Australians have got a right to know if he's still pushing on with the Treaty? 

Senator Nampijinpa Price
Yeah, absolutely. And I think you know, the states are now showing that they're a bit wobbly on their legs with regard to negotiating treaties, which is fair enough. We shouldn't be negotiating treaties with our own citizens, and I think it's a bit of a dog's breakfast if the Prime Minister decides to move forward with this negotiation process. Again, people want action, they want action now. They don't want it in the form of treaties. This this idea of truth telling – we want the truth to be told with a lot of the issues that our marginalized face.

Peta Credlin
I'll get to some of those issues in a moment, particularly a court case involving young people, but I know you've had a lot to say in the parliament about land councils. We've seen today the Bunurong Land Council, which is a great part of Southern Victoria. It's been placed into administration in September because there's been an investigation of alleged fraud in excess of $150,000 and a whole lot of allegations of mismanagement and corruption, that you're going to say to me, I know, that this doesn't surprise you does it?

Senator Nampijinpa Price
Doesn't surprise me at all. It's another very adamant reason as to why we need an audit of the structures that currently exist to determine who's actually appropriately dispersing funds. Or using funds to provide practical outcomes and who's not doing that. The Australian people want to know certainly those that miss out or those that these land councils are supposed to serve. They're the ones that miss out when this sort of behavior is found. And there is – I don't believe that there's enough in terms of deterring this kind of behavior because we see it repeated over and over again, I think an audit would find the opportunity to look at the extent of the issue more broadly, but also what measures should be put in place to determine this sort of thing in the future.

Peta Credlin
And look at as was revealed in the whole debate about the voice, you know, you've got almost $40 billion coming out of governments around the country, year in year out for Aboriginal people, programs and individual funding. And of course, we know well, I've been out to your community, little sisters and elsewhere. It doesn't hit the ground. So where does it go? Where does it go?

Senator Nampijinpa Price
Well, that's exactly why we need to understand where it goes and we need to reinvest it, where it should be providing outcomes. We also need to look at economic independence for Indigenous Australians, move away from the separatist model. You know, you go to remote community if you want to see socialism at play, go out there. It's happening before us this, dependence on government on welfare and we need to create economic opportunity out in those communities, start treating them like small country towns instead of socialist enclaves. But, you know, there's a whole raft of things that I'd love to get my teeth into going forward.

Peta Credlin
Just quickly, we've seen a high court – sorry, a New South Wales Supreme Court decision that allowed two Aboriginal kids or lately recognized as Aboriginal kids, to be adopted by the long term foster parents. The Aboriginal Mother has said, you know, the white fellas won't understand culture. The court said, look, we're quite happy with the situation we think they will. We also hear today an 18 year old man has been allowed also to be adopted by his long term foster parents. Surely, are we turning the tide here to say that we're starting to see that it's got to be about what's in the best interest of the child rather than Aboriginal culture?

Senator Nampijinpa Price
I'm relieved to see these sorts of determinations where the best interests of the child has been put before the ideological notion that the culture or the connection to country, is more important than upholding their human rights. These children finally, the 18 year old has been fighting to be adopted by those that have loved him and cared for him and nurtured him. In terms of the younger children. It was only recently that they found out that there was any Aboriginal ancestry. So, you know, how can you argue that it's a cultural thing? The only people I know that are living still connected to traditional culture are those in remote communities. In the Northern Territory, Western Australia and other places. But what we need to do is create well rounded adults who can find out for themselves more about who they are when they are in a stable position as adults who have got great lives contributing to society effectively, not going down the path of incarceration, or alcohol and substance abuse and addiction, because they've been left in dysfunction. I'm glad to see the tables are turning and this this is a great outcome going forward.

Peta Credlin
See I told you we missed you. I know my audience is cheering, I can hear him cheering right now. Jacinta Price, great to have your company as always.