Question Time AU

Take Note Debate

Indigenous Australians

Senate · Wednesday 13 May 2026

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

Senator Lidia Thorpe moved a motion to take note of the Minister for Indigenous Australians' response regarding Indigenous child placement in the Northern Territory. Thorpe argued that the Northern Territory government was undermining an important recommendation from the Bringing them Home report by failing to place removed children with Aboriginal families. She criticised the Commonwealth government for inaction, stating that failing to override Northern Territory laws constituted complicity in harm against Aboriginal people. The Senate agreed to the motion.

Outcome

The motion was agreed to.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Opened the debate

Lidia Thorpe (VIC) (Independent) Ind

Thorpe argued that the Northern Territory government sought to weaken the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child placement principle, a recommendation from the Bringing them Home report. Thorpe stated that data showed only 17.5 per cent of removed First Nations children in the Northern Territory were placed with Aboriginal families, meaning the majority were placed with non-Indigenous carers. Thorpe contended that the Northern Territory government did not follow the principle yet claimed it was ineffective. Thorpe asserted that the Commonwealth had constitutional power to override Northern Territory legislation and that inaction made the government complicit in ongoing harm to Aboriginal people.