Mr BEAZLEY (2:07 PM) —My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. I refer the Acting Prime Minister to the fact that the government has now agreed with Labor that Indigenous child abuse and family violence should be placed at the top of the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda.

Government members interjecting—

Mr BEAZLEY —This is what I thought you wanted. In the light of this bipartisanship on such an important issue, will the Acting Prime Minister ensure that all agreements made at COAG’s next meeting will have benchmarks, targets and review mechanisms so that progress can be regularly assessed?

Mr COSTELLO (Acting Prime Minister) —We would certainly welcome bipartisan agreement from the Australian Labor Party on the measures that are necessary to deal with violence in Aboriginal communities. The measures which are necessary include additional policing; they include bringing offenders before courts; they include ensuring that there are proper penalties; and they include a very clear and very direct message to all Australians, including Indigenous Australians, that there is no justification—no cultural justification and no other justification—for offences against persons. We would certainly welcome the assistance of the Northern Territory Labor government in ensuring that adequate police resources are made available in relation to those communities.

Mr Beazley interjecting—

Mr COSTELLO —This is where we would welcome bipartisan support, which I do not hear from the interjections now coming from the Leader of the Opposition. Whatever he says, it is clear that the people behind him do not agree with that position and are not supporting the government in those efforts. I would make it clear that this government called a summit to put those matters back on the agenda.

Mr Beazley —Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order that goes to relevance. My question was about COAG and about benchmarking.

The SPEAKER —The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat.

Mr Wilkie interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! The member for Swan is warned! I remind the Leader of the Opposition that, when he is asked to resume his seat, I expect him to do so. He has raised a point of order. I have been listening carefully to the Acting Prime Minister; he is answering the question.

Mr COSTELLO —A national summit, the call for which was made by the minister for Indigenous affairs, will be held next month—I have written to all premiers and chief ministers—and it is to get agreement on these points: to make sure that we are strong, tough and clear about stopping violence in Aboriginal communities. It will be reporting back to COAG and COAG will be involved in the procedure. Let there be no mistake about this: this government believes very strongly in protecting innocent children and women in Aboriginal communities and we will not let political correctness get in the way of that.