John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Brandis very much for that particular question. It is of course an issue that is of critical importance to the government and to Indigenous peoples. Can I say that the government does support the principles underlying the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which covers broad subject matter and is of great importance, as I have said, to Indigenous peoples. This support needs to be seen in the context of Australia’s domestic law and also our international legal obligations.

The government is now consulting across the breadth of the issues that are contained in the declaration. I can say to Senator Brandis and, through you, Mr President, to the Senate, in relation to the issue of the Northern Territory emergency response, which has been raised, as Senator Brandis knows, in relation to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, that, while the government is still considering the implications of the declaration, including in the context of the emergency response, we do support the importance of consultation and discussion with Indigenous peoples and have significantly increased our engagement.

I will give an example, if I can, to the Senate. The Prime Minister met key Indigenous leaders in Darwin in December last year and has announced his intention to meet with that group regularly. As Senator Brandis would be aware, as a declaration attached to a General Assembly resolution of the United Nations, this is an aspirational declaration. It has of course a political and moral force, but it is my understanding that it has no legal effect.