Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management) (14:24): Thank you, Senator Thorpe. I don't think it's fair for Senator Thorpe to suggest that this government doesn't take these issues seriously. I would like to think that every member of this chamber has been appalled by some of the racial violence and the alleged murder, bearing in mind that there's a process yet to be gone through, particularly in relation to the incident in Perth, which was awful. There's no other word for it, and it shouldn't be happening in Australia. It shouldn't have happened in Australia at any period of our history, and it certainly shouldn't be happening now. But it's not just me who's been saying this on behalf of the government. I well remember the multiple comments that the Prime Minister has made in recent weeks about these acts of racial violence. As I said, I would hope that that is a position that is shared by all members of this chamber. I'm sure, Senator Thorpe, you are aware of the range of actions that this government is taking on matters involving youth justice, which disturbingly in this day and age continues to have a disproportionate involvement of young First Nations people. As a country we haven't done a good enough job of youth justice for young Indigenous people, and they are being incarcerated at a far higher rate than should be acceptable to any of us in this country. But I do believe that this is an issue that the government takes seriously. We had money in the most recent budget to expand the range of services around youth justice, particularly in relation to young First Nations people. The PRESIDENT: A point of order, Senator Thorpe? Senator Thorpe: It is relevance. My question is: why is addressing—not hand-on-heart feelings and understanding how hard it is for us—or how is or what is the government doing— The PRESIDENT: Senator Thorpe, it's not appropriate to repeat the question. You've made a point of order indicating to me that you believe the minister isn't being relevant. I don't agree with the point of order. The minister is being relevant, and I would ask him to continue. Senator WATT: As I said, there is a range of programs that our government funded through the recent budget around youth justice programs for First Nations people. The PRESIDENT: Another point of order, Senator Thorpe? Senator Tho rpe: This is not about youth justice. This is about racial violence. It's not about the black kids themselves— The PRESIDENT: Senator Thorpe— Senator Thorpe: It's about the racists that are doing it. The PRESIDENT: That's a debating point. You had a wideranging question. As I indicated to you on your previous point of order, the minister is being relevant. Please continue, Minister. Senator Thorpe: It's not about youth justice; it's about racists. Senator WATT: I was coming to that, Senator Thorpe. In addition to the programs that we have in relation to youth justice, I think there have been a number of figures in this government who have been very vocal about racial violence in our country being completely unacceptable, and I'm happy to take advice from the relevant ministers as to what more we might be doing in that regard. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Thorpe, first supplementary.