Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy told a Senate Estimates hearing on Friday that the government remains "supportive of the principles of Voice Treaty Truth".
Opposition spokesperson on Indigenous policy, Jacinta Nampijina Price, had asked departmental representatives at the Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee about budget funding for a Makarrata Commisson.
"The 2022-23 budget provided $5.8 million from 2022-23 through to 24-25 and I quote, 'commence work on establishing an independent Makarrata Commission to oversee processes for agreement making and truth telling'. Can you please update us on how much so far has been spent on establishing a Makarrata Commission?"
Deborah Fulton, Group manager for Culture Country and Connection in the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) advised Senator Price the funding that had been provided in that budget measure has been returned to the contingency reserve.
"We don't have specific resourcing for work on a Makarrata Commission," she said.
Senator Price replied: "5.8 million is where it stood and there's no more available to that. So, is there any more? I think it was $27.7 million in the original commitment made. Has any more been committed from that $27.7 million?"
Ms Fulton advised that the funding is in the contingency reserve - "it's not with the agency (NIAA), but it remains in the budget".
Senator Price noted that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had said in February that the federal government remained committed to implementing the Uluru Statement.
Senator McCarthy responded that the government is "definitely committed to the principles of the Uluru Statement, Voice Treaty Truth".
The Opposition spokesperson asked the Minister if she could "confirm that the government is still committed to establishing a Makarrata Commission that you have promised the $27.7 million for and budgeted $5.8 million for".
Senator McCarthy said the federal government backed both the Uluru principles of Voice Treaty Truth and the Truth and Justice Bill brought by Greens Senator Dorinda Cox to the Senate for an inquiry across the country.
"It is important to see the outcome of that inquiry, but also the submissions that are applied to that inquiry as to what the next step should be that can guide both the Senate but also our government," the Minister said.
Senator Price said this indicated the Makarrata Commission remains part of the government's commitment "pending the inquiry", to which the Minister replied: "We remain firmly committed to the principles of Voice, Treaty Truth. We've not walked away from the Uluru Statement from the Heart."
