The Australian Greens have called on the government to fundamentally change its approach to funding policies relating to Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders, to prevent millions more being wasted on ineffective programs.

The call comes in response to news that the programs being funded in Aboriginal communities are not effective, despite the government spending $3.5 billion dollars annually.

Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has congratulated organisers of this year's DisabiliTea, and says politicians can longer turn a blind eye to the growing support for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Nearly 900 teas were registered across Australia and more than 46,000 supporters signed up to the Every Australian Counts campaign for an NDIS. "This movement can no longer be ignored by the political parties.

Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has accused the Government and Centrelink of deliberately setting out to demonise people with disabilities, after it emerged that videos of income support recipients are routinely sent to media outlets.

Earlier this year, Centrelink released videos of people on disability support who had been charged with fraud. It coincided with legislation making punitive changes to the Disability Support Pension (DSP) and the release of the latest data on the disability support pension.

MOTIONS

Indigenous Health
Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (12:18):

I move:

That the Senate— 

The Senate has backed an Australian Greens motion questioning the Government handling of a major renal study and has called on the Federal Government to show leadership and dedicate resources to improve renal health.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal Health said today that the Government should now take a greater leadership role in improving renal health among Aboriginal people in central Australia.

Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Senator BOYCE (Queensland) (15:40):  I seek leave to amend notice of motion No. 300 standing in my name and the names of Senator Adams and Senator Siewert relating to foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

The Australian Greens say a number of key draft recommendations were cut from the final report of the Central Australia Renal Study.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues has raised serious questions about changes made to the report's recommendations after comparing the draft to the final version released this week.

"The draft report contained two action plans for the periods 2011-2012 and 2013-2015, which were based on 76 separate recommendations," Senator Siewert said today.

The Australian Greens have welcomed the release of the Central Australia Renal Study, saying the report highlights the need for ongoing Federal Government leadership.

"This report was commissioned because of the growing need for dialysis in central Australia and the lack of adequate action from Governments at a State, Territory and Federal level," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Green spokesperson for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues said today.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (09:32):  It is with great pleasure that I stand here today to talk about this bill. The title of the dissenting report by Senator Xenophon and the Australian Greens into this bill—'Oils ain't oils'—says it all, and I must give Senator Xenophon credit for it. And it is true, because palm oil is not just a vegetable oil. If you read food packaging today you would believe it is just a vegetable oil. Well, we do not believe it is just a vegetable oil, nor do a large number of Australians.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (11:50):  The Greens have concerns with schedule 2 of this bill. This is the schedule that makes a payment for a child turning four contingent on that child having a health check, but the measure applies only to families where either parent has received income support for any part of that year. I have concerns about this part of the bill.