Page 3726 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 23 November 2022
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that parliament. He gave that speech more than 34 years ago, in the 35th federal parliament. We are now in the 47th federal parliament.
To address the many outstanding issues in First Nations communities, we must acknowledge our past—truth. We should make an agreement with our First Nations people—treaty. And all efforts must be designed in close consultation with the First Nations community—voice. That is what a voice means. It means action developed and based on a meaningful engagement with the people affected, to maximise the benefits. This is not radical; it is practical and it is respectful.
To turn to popular culture for a moment but also an important historical perspective, I am reminded of the fact that 31 years ago Yothu Yindi reached No 11 on the Aria singles charts with their song Treaty from the album Tribal Voice. Most of us know that song—we are of a certain age in this Assembly—but let me cite a key section of it:
Well I heard it on the radio
And I saw it on the television
Back in 1988
All those talking politicians
Words are easy, words are cheap
Much cheaper than our priceless land
But promises can disappear
Just like writing in the sand
Let us ensure that there are not more decades of waiting, that a future Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artist does not have cause to pen a similar song.
The Greens strongly commit to progress on the Uluru Statement from the Heart and to passing major reforms to improve First Nations rights in this country, to address the historical inaccuracies of this country, to address the injustices that occurred and to find a pathway forward, as has been offered to us in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, where we can walk forward together for a better future for all of the peoples of this nation.
Today the Greens will be voting in support of Dr Paterson’s motion because that is something that we can do today. But we all have work to do to fulfil and meet the generosity given to us in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Families and Community Services and Minister for Health) (4.30): I thank Dr Paterson for moving this motion today and giving the Assembly the opportunity to discuss the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the historic proposition that is set to be put to the Australian people at a referendum next year to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to the Australian parliament in the Constitution.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart is a generous offer from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from across Australia for us all to walk together towards a better future, as both Dr Paterson and Minister Rattenbury have said. As members would be aware, the statement was issued in 2017 by more than 250 Aboriginal and Torres
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