Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:59): I thank Senator Ciccone for that question, and for his sincere and ongoing interest in reconciliation and the project of building a better future for all Australians. It's a good question. Those opposite might like to recall that the idea of a voice came directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, please resume your seat. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash, I've just called the chamber to order. That includes you—and Senator Henderson and Senator Hughes. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Order across the chamber, particularly on my left! I am calling the minister to continue her response. I expect her to be heard in silence. Senator WONG: The call for the Voice did not come from politicians. The call for the Voice came from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In 2017, after many years of work and countless discussions in every part of this country, nearly 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and elders— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order, senators! Senator Ayres! I just called the chamber to order, and the minute I called the minister, the disorder continued. It's disrespectful. I'm asking for silence. Minister Wong. Senator WONG: Nearly 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and elders endorsed the Statement from the Heart, calling for recognition in the Constitution through a voice. The Voice is about recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our Constitution and paying respect to 65,000 years of culture and tradition. It is also about listening. It's about listening to the advice our First Nations people give on matters that affect their lives so that governments make better decisions. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Watt interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, I just sat the minister down. I remind all of you that you have the opportunity at any time in the sitting calendar to make your views known. Question time is not the time for these unruly and disrespectful interjections. Minister Wong, please continue. Senator WONG: This is about government making better decisions, and it is an idea driven by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, supported by eight in 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Surely we all know the current approach is broken. We see First Nations people with a life expectancy eight years shorter than non-Indigenous Australians, the worst rates of disease and infant mortality, a suicide rate twice as high— Senator McGrath interjecting— Senator WONG: I am surprised, Senator McGrath, you would interject on these points—and fewer opportunities for education and training. The Voice is our best chance to fix this. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Minister Wong— Senator WONG: When governments listen to people— The PRESIDENT: Minister Wong! Please resume your seat. Senator McGrath interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator McGrath, that was outrageous and completely disorderly. I've asked for order across the chamber, particularly on my left but also on my right. Senator Wong is entitled to be heard in silence. I should not have to remind all of you how to conduct yourselves in this place. Senator WONG: When governments listen to people about issues that affect them, they make better decisions, get better results and deliver better value for money. That is why all Australians, not just politicians in this place, will have a chance to say, 'We can do better and we must.' A government senator interjecting — The PRESIDENT: I'm not quite sure who that was on my right, but that was incredibly disrespectful. Senator McGrath: Withdraw it! The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator McGrath! Senator Ciccone, first supplementary? Honourable senators interjecting— Senator McGrath: Coward! The PRESIDENT: Senator Ciccone, please resume your seat. Senator McGrath, your interjections are rude and disorderly and disrespectful. Senator McGrath interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator McGrath, I am ordering you to be silent, not to have a debate with me. Senator Ciccone, first supplementary?