Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025, Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025
Senator McALLISTER (New South Wales—Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) (11:34): Senator Thorpe, thank you for bringing questions around race and the impacts of racism on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into this debate. It is an issue I would acknowledge, and I know that my colleague Senator McCarthy would also acknowledge these concerns.
I well recall the important role that Aboriginal controlled community health organisations and land councils played during the pandemic in describing the particular risks that presented for their communities and in supporting senators in this place to understand those and to help shape the way that we were thinking about what an appropriate pandemic response would look like.
The bill does provide many references to the responsibilities of the director-general to consider the public health impacts that might arise for particular populations. In particular, as a legislated objective, the director-general must have regard to the impacts of risks to public health and the impacts of responses to risks to public health on particular communities and population groups.
This objective will ensure that consideration is given to the impacts of public health risks, the advice and approaches to combat the impacts on specific population groups and the health inequities that they face across all functions— Senator Thorpe: Why can't we name racism? The TEMPORARY CHAIR ( Senator Cox ): Order! Senator Thorpe, you do not have the call.
The minister is on her feet, responding to your question. If you want to hear the answer, please remain silent. It is disorderly to be shouting out from the other end of the chamber to the minister while she is on her feet, and also disrespectful to me.
Senator Thorpe: Why aren't you speaking up for it? Because you jumped ship. You're a joke.
The TEMPORARY CHAIR: Senator Thorpe, come to order. Senator McALLISTER: Senator, I'll just conclude by saying that the objective I read to you just now is intended to ensure that the CDC does consider— Senator Thorpe: You sound like a copper. The TEMPORARY CHAIR: Senator Thorpe!
Senator McALLISTER: issues relevant to specific— The TEMPORARY CHAIR: Senator Thorpe, if you keep interjecting, we cannot continue for the minister to give her answer. Please be respectful, as others have shown respect, so that they are able to answer the question that you have posed to the minister. If you keep interjecting, she's not going to be able to give her answer.
Senator McALLISTER: Senator, I simply wish to indicate that this objective is intended to ensure issues relevant to specific population groups, including issues such as racial discrimination, are considered.