A heated debate in the Australian Senate has reignited divisions over the nation's Closing the Gap strategy, with the Opposition renewing calls for a wide-ranging audit of Indigenous programs while the government defended its record on jobs, health and economic participation.
Tensions flared as independent senator Lidia Thorpe clashed with Pauline Hanson, labelling her an "absolute disgrace", while Coalition figures argued Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander outcomes had deteriorated under Labor.
The latest Closing the Gap address from Anthony Albanese showed mixed results. Suicide, incarceration and child protection targets remain off track, while land rights and economic participation measures have improved. Only four targets are on track, four are worsening and six show signs of progress.
Addressing the chamber on Monday, Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy sought to emphasise gains, repeating the Prime Minister's view that "employment and economic empowerment are central to self-determination".
"That's why my focus has been steadfast — on jobs, jobs, jobs," she said. "Having a job is a critical foundation — creating pathways that support dignity, security and generational change."
The government last month announced $144 million to upgrade more than 100 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in metropolitan and regional areas, alongside an expansion of the remote jobs program from 3,000 to 6,000 positions and an extension of remote food subsidies.
"Across the country, we have expanded access to culturally safe healthcare, increased the number of First Nations specialists in training and upgraded essential healthcare infrastructure so services are fit-for purpose and comparable to urban areas," Senator McCarthy said.
"Programs like Birthing in Our Communities in Brisbane, and Waminda's Birthing on Country in Nowra, are reducing pre-term births and improving antenatal visits and breastfeeding rates. We know that our health is more than physical; it includes strong minds and spirits. And when support is needed, it must be immediate and culturally safe."
Delivering the Coalition's response, Opposition Senate leader Michaelia Cash said the government had failed to deliver meaningful improvements.
"The Albanese government have gone backwards when it comes to closing the gap," she said. "After four years of this government, after billions of dollars in spending and after an enormous and divisive national debate about a voice to parliament, we now have—this is the reality for Australians — fewer Closing the Gap targets on track than when Labor came to power."
While the Coalition has declined to support legislation to create a Commissioner for Indigenous Children and Young People — a reform long backed by advocates — Senator Cash renewed calls for an audit of Indigenous organisations — a proposal Aboriginal groups say would be convoluted, unnecessary and costly.
"Senator [Jacinta] Nampijinpa Price has consistently and rightly called for an audit of the programs that are supposedly supporting — we know they're not; the statistics show that — Indigenous Australians," she said. "Without such an audit, it is impossible to know what is working, what is failing and where the money is being wasted."
In her own address, Senator Price argued that closing the gap required confronting what she described as low expectations and structural barriers to economic participation and pointed to current legislation.
"The Aboriginal Land Rights Act came into effect in 1976. There were good intentions behind it: To give traditional Indigenous owners of the Northern Territory not only greater ownership of their land - but control over their land too," she said.
"Land councils were established to hold lands in trust - and to preside over the use of those lands through leases, licences, and agreements. Today, some 50 per cent of the Northern Territory is owned by Indigenous Australians. And yet, it's incredibly difficult for them to use this land for economic purposes."
The newly appointed Shadow Minister for Jobs and Small Business called for an audit of Indigenous organisations and a review of the act, arguing the measures related to a "broader point about Closing the Gap".
"We must do away with the notions of victimhood and paternalism that sit at the centre of too many laws, too many government policies, and too many bureaucratic processes," Senator Price said.
"We must give Indigenous Australians the individual agency that all humans crave."
Earlier, proceedings grew heated during a separate debate when Senator Hanson — later censured over comments last month that there are no "good muslims" — allegedly swore at Senator Thorpe. After speaking on another matter, the Victorian Senator said she was "called a bitch by the racist".
Senator Hanson used her time to argue the country should move beyond racial distinctions.
"The fact is we are all Australians and should be treated equally and the same based on individual needs basis," she said, calling to "get rid of 'who's Aboriginal', 'who's Indigenous', 'who's Australian'".
In response, Senator Thorpe called Senator Hanson an "absolute disgrace," asking: "What are you saying...that my people are raping babies?" She then urged Senate President Sue Lines to "stop racism".
In her speech, Senator Thorpe said it was "very disappointing to see some so-called senators who represent the absolute filth of this country— the racists out there".
"We know racism contributes to incarceration rates, contributes to ill health and contributes to so much hurt and division in this country because of the racist words that come out of Pauline Hanson's mouth," she added.
