Page 3728 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 23 November 2022
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On 1 November 2017, five years ago this month, I spoke in this place in an adjournment debate to denounce the then Turnbull Liberal government for its rejection of the Uluru statement. In that speech I quoted Rod Little, who said at the time, “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been let down once again.”
While Labor’s position has been clear since 2017, the same cannot be said of the federal counterparts of some here in this place. While former Liberal prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison maintained a consistent position that they did not support the voice to parliament as envisaged in the Uluru statement, the incoming Liberal leader, Peter Dutton, has instead adopted a position best described as strategic ambiguity. It remains unclear whether Peter Dutton and the federal Liberals will support a yes campaign in the coming referendum. I hope that my Liberal colleagues in this place will take the opportunity to distance themselves from this wishy-washy position and get up, stand up and show up for the yes campaign—although Mrs Kikkert’s amendment, as circulated, gives me no hope that that will be the case.
While I acknowledge that the federal Greens position is underpinned by significantly more complexity, the fact remains that they had until recently continued to equivocate on their position on the voice. I was pleased to hear Minister Rattenbury’s contribution today, confirming that they will support the yes campaign and the movement for a voice. I am pleased that Dr Paterson’s motion has the support of my Greens colleagues in this place today.
As the motion notes, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body has, since 2008, demonstrated the value of an independent democratic body to scrutinise and advise our parliament on behalf of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. We are, rightly, proud to have an elected body blazing a trail of self-determination here in the ACT. Dr Paterson’s motion calls on the government to explore how we can support the grassroots efforts that are already building in support of a referendum yes campaign.
There has not been a referendum held in Australia in recent memory. However, the marriage equality postal vote was referendum-like in the form that the public debate took. The government were proud to support the yes campaign in that instance, and we will be proud to do so again, led by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and its allies.
As with the same-sex marriage debate, the inevitable no campaigns may cause significant distress for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. There is no reason that this cannot be a respectful public debate, and I hope that we do not see campaigns make use of racism, fear or hatred in pursuit of their aims.
Recently I watched a documentary which went back to the Wik decision in the High Court, and reshowing the advertising that went to air at that time. Frankly, I was shocked by the rhetoric, how recent that was and how I had forgotten that. But I know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have not forgotten the impact of that debate and the terrible things that were said.
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