❓ Ms. Farrer asks the Premier if the government will support her bill to recognise Indigenous people in the state's Constitution. The Premier responds that while the government supports the principle, they intend to prioritise the Noongar settlement agreement first.
AnsweredQoN 894Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CONSTITUTION
AMENDMENT (RECOGNITION OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLE) BILL 2014
894. Ms J. FARRER to the
Premier:
This afternoon in private members' time, the bill
that I introduced to this Parliament, which seeks to recognise in the state's
Constitution the first Western Australian Indigenous people, will be debated
and, I hope supported, by all members in this house. I ask the Premier: will
the government support my bill this afternoon and allow it to come to a vote?
AMENDMENT (RECOGNITION OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLE) BILL 2014
894. Ms J. FARRER to the
Premier:
This afternoon in private members' time, the bill
that I introduced to this Parliament, which seeks to recognise in the state's
Constitution the first Western Australian Indigenous people, will be debated
and, I hope supported, by all members in this house. I ask the Premier: will
the government support my bill this afternoon and allow it to come to a vote?
AnswerView source ↗
It is not within my control as to the passage of legislation.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Let me make some comments. The issue of the recognition of Aboriginal people
within the Australian Constitution, and indeed within state Constitutions, is
not a new issue. I commend the member for Kimberley for bringing it forward
again. I spoke to the member —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : Don't be patronising!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is not patronising at all.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I spoke with the member for Kimberley probably several weeks
ago, maybe a month or so ago, and I made the point that the government in
principle supported the recognition of Aboriginal people within our
Constitution. I also made the point to the member for Kimberley that the state
was in the position of finalising the agreement within the Noongar people,
covering Perth and the south west, and a native title settlement, which in
terms of the numbers of Aboriginal people involved is some 20 000, and in terms
of the geographic area covered is Perth and the entire south west, and also
recognising the total value of that settlement, $1.3 billion, including cash
payments, land, funding for economic enterprise and the like, and that the
government had worked, along with the South West Land and Sea Council, for over
two years on that. It was reaching conclusion and, indeed, early this week I
made the comment that the agreement had basically been agreed to and was now
going out to various parts of the Noongar community for authorisation meetings.
I am optimistic that they will be successfully concluded around March. In that
context, I made it clear to the member for Kimberley that it was the state's
intent to honour the commitment given to Noongar people and that the bill that
was introduced as a draft bill in February this year would be passed, hopefully
with the support of all members, and that that would be the first act in
recognising, in this case, the Noongar people specifically as the traditional
owners of the Perth and south west region. I made that very clear and, indeed,
made statements —
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I made that very clear. I indicated to the member for
Kimberley that it was the government's intent that that should proceed
first.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I indicated to the member for Kimberley that it was the
government's intent that that should proceed first and that we were
prepared to work in a bipartisan way —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
said that we were prepared to work as a government in a bipartisan way,
including the member for Kimberley, and give due recognition to the fact that
she has brought this forward. We remain willing to do so, but it is the
government's intention that the Noongar recognition, which has been
widely negotiated and widely canvassed and has been subject to wide public
commentary and debate, should proceed. The offer remains. I do not doubt the
member for Kimberley is absolutely genuine in what she is seeking to achieve —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : But
you're not; that's the problem.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Well, I am.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, I am trying to answer the question.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
make the point that the government is, in principle, in support —
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, I give up. It is pointless.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the first time.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Let me make some comments. The issue of the recognition of Aboriginal people
within the Australian Constitution, and indeed within state Constitutions, is
not a new issue. I commend the member for Kimberley for bringing it forward
again. I spoke to the member —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : Don't be patronising!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is not patronising at all.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I spoke with the member for Kimberley probably several weeks
ago, maybe a month or so ago, and I made the point that the government in
principle supported the recognition of Aboriginal people within our
Constitution. I also made the point to the member for Kimberley that the state
was in the position of finalising the agreement within the Noongar people,
covering Perth and the south west, and a native title settlement, which in
terms of the numbers of Aboriginal people involved is some 20 000, and in terms
of the geographic area covered is Perth and the entire south west, and also
recognising the total value of that settlement, $1.3 billion, including cash
payments, land, funding for economic enterprise and the like, and that the
government had worked, along with the South West Land and Sea Council, for over
two years on that. It was reaching conclusion and, indeed, early this week I
made the comment that the agreement had basically been agreed to and was now
going out to various parts of the Noongar community for authorisation meetings.
I am optimistic that they will be successfully concluded around March. In that
context, I made it clear to the member for Kimberley that it was the state's
intent to honour the commitment given to Noongar people and that the bill that
was introduced as a draft bill in February this year would be passed, hopefully
with the support of all members, and that that would be the first act in
recognising, in this case, the Noongar people specifically as the traditional
owners of the Perth and south west region. I made that very clear and, indeed,
made statements —
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I made that very clear. I indicated to the member for
Kimberley that it was the government's intent that that should proceed
first.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I indicated to the member for Kimberley that it was the
government's intent that that should proceed first and that we were
prepared to work in a bipartisan way —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
said that we were prepared to work as a government in a bipartisan way,
including the member for Kimberley, and give due recognition to the fact that
she has brought this forward. We remain willing to do so, but it is the
government's intention that the Noongar recognition, which has been
widely negotiated and widely canvassed and has been subject to wide public
commentary and debate, should proceed. The offer remains. I do not doubt the
member for Kimberley is absolutely genuine in what she is seeking to achieve —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : But
you're not; that's the problem.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Well, I am.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, I am trying to answer the question.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
make the point that the government is, in principle, in support —
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, I give up. It is pointless.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the first time.
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