QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator McCARTHY (Northern Territory—Minister for Indigenous Australians) (14:38): In my meeting with the families and with the Mount Isa Council, I have certainly looked at the possibility of whether Mount Isa Council can revisit the concerns that it has in regard to the debt, and they are very clear that they will not do that. What I am saying to the families—and, no doubt, if they are listening to this, the families know—is that I am doing my utmost to ensure that they are going to be okay.

It was important to listen to them. We have family members who—in one instance, there's a woman who's got a terminal illness— The PRESIDENT: Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Thorpe?

Senator Thorpe: Point of order on relevance. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Thorpe. You've asked me about relevance.

I'm going to say the Minister is being relevant to your question. Senator Thorpe: Fifteen families—what are you doing for the 15 families that you say you're going to secure housing for? The PRESIDENT: Senator Thorpe, resume your seat.

Senator Thorpe interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Thorpe, when I call you to order, you have to come to order. Senator Thorpe interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Thorpe, you are not in a debate with me. The minister is being relevant.

Senator McCARTHY: I've met with the families and I've certainly spoken with them. There's one family member who's got a terminal illness who is deeply upset. There is a family member who's been in there for 40 years.

So I am working very closely with these families— (Time expired)