Coalition minister defends Turnbull government against claims it failed to consult on Indigenous recognition

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Ken Wyatt has said he is “optimistic” that an Indigenous voice to parliament could be established through legislation, rather than in the constitution.

Speaking alongside the Labor senator Pat Dodson on Sunday, the minister for Indigenous health defended the Turnbull government against claims it had failed to consult on Indigenous recognition and Closing the Gap targets.

On Friday the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, announced the consultation over the targets would be extended to October and include state-based targets for rectifying Indigenous disadvantage.

Closing the Gap: Turnbull rejects claims government has abandoned strategy Read more

It followed a damning 10-year review that found the aim of achieving health parity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians by 2030 was “effectively abandoned” in favour of short-term goals in seven key indicators, only one of which is on track.

Wyatt told Sky News that when Turnbull gives the full Closing the Gap report on Monday it will show “some good results” and the May budget will show a “serious commitment” to the issue.

Dodson, the shadow assistant minister for Indigenous affairs, blamed lack of funding for insufficient progress, which he said was “pretty disappointing”.

Dodson said that Labor wanted justice and out-of-home care targets added to measure the number of young people in prison and away from their families.

“I think they may be considered – [but] we’re not part of that discussion, in formulating the new statements,” he said.

Dodson said that, as the alternative government, Labor should be included in a bipartisan approach and there was a “serious question of trust” between the government and First Peoples – partly because of its stance on Indigenous recognition.

“I think [first Australians] don’t feel they’re getting a fair say over the delivery of services to remedy the situation they see on a daily basis and they don’t feel part of that solution.”

In May the Uluru statement rejected symbolic recognition in favour a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice in parliament and a commission that will lead to a treaty.

The cabinet rejected the proposal and Turnbull described the constitutionally enshrined body as “not desirable”, prompting a backlash at his characterisation of the body as a third chamber of parliament.

Wyatt explained that the voice proposal was rejected because Turnbull did not believe it was “in the spirit” of the terms of reference and it was “not the expected outcome” from talks at Uluru.

Closing the Gap health goals 'effectively abandoned' for political reasons Read more

But he said the proposal was not rejected “out of hand” and the prime minister had not ruled out some form of Indigenous constitutional recognition.

“I still believe we need to be recognised in our national birth certificate,” Wyatt said. “If not, there is a glaring gap ... there is a truth: that we existed on this continent for 60,000 years, before settlement occurred.”

Wyatt said an Indigenous voice to parliament “will be talked about ... outside of the constitution”.

“I’m optimistic that will occur – I don’t have a problem with it.”

Dodson endorsed Turnbull and the leader of the opposition’s proposal to move recognition forward with a parliamentary joint committee.

But he objected to the fact that, under the new Closing the Gap timetable, new objectives would not be drafted until June.