Senator Lidia Thorpe has called on the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, to cancel a $4,000-a-head Labor Party fundraising event in Sydney today, as the Minister remains silent on major justice issues affecting First Peoples, including calls from the family of Kumanjayi White for transparency and urgent calls for action on youth incarceration.

The afternoon tea event has been advertised at $4,000 per attendee, offering direct access to the Minister. The price sits just below the disclosure threshold, meaning attendees do not have to be publicly declared. Senator Thorpe questioned the Minister on this event in the Senate last month. 

It comes as the family of Kumanjayi White continues calling for answers this week, as the NT government refuses to release a review into the young man's death in custody at a Coles supermarket nearly a year ago. The Minister's office has failed to respond to questions about the matter.

It also follows the federal government’s dismissal of calls from more than 200 legal experts and First Nations organisations for an urgent national summit on youth justice, despite legal advice confirming the Commonwealth has the power to act.

Quotes attributable to Lidia Thorpe, Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung independent Victorian Senator:

“We have to question who Labor really works for, given what we’ve seen this week from the Minister for Indigenous Australians.

Access to decision-makers shouldn’t go to the highest bidder, it should go to those most in need.

The Minister’s office has not responded to questions about developments in Kumanjayi White’s death, as his family continues to call for respect and transparency. Her office has also failed to respond to urgent calls from more than 200 organisations to address the jailing of our children, but she has time for an exclusive cash-for-access afternoon tea.

The family of Kumanjayi White had to hear about the latest developments in the investigation through the media. This is simply not good enough. There needs to be transparency and accountability, and the review into his death should be made public.

The Minister should be doing everything she can to support the family, ensure they are respected and kept informed. She should be out there today advocating for the release of this report.

This week more than 200 experts have said the jailing of our children is a national emergency, yet the government continues to deny responsibility, despite clear legal advice confirming they has the power to act. Again, we have seen no comment from the Minister.

Labor should listen to the experts and the community. We should have a national summit on this crisis, and the government needs to take a strong role in addressing it.

The response from the federal government this week simply is not good enough, and it points to a culture in Labor that prioritises donors over everyday people.

The Minister should cancel this event today. Instead, she should be working with families who are calling for answers and doing everything she can to push for justice.