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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (17 June) . . Page.. 1616 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

As you will know, the Government for some time now has been working closely with the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to provide their cultural centre. That centre is to be on Acton Peninsula with the National Museum and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. It is too early yet to predict an opening date for the centre. However, the aim is to have all the facilities on the peninsula and open on 1 January 2001. To assist in achieving this aim, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander design and construction working group has been established. Membership of that group reflects wide representation and expertise from within the ACT indigenous community. The working group, in consultation with the Government, is currently preparing a functional brief and business plan for that cultural centre.

Another major and significant reconciliation initiative developed in cooperation with that indigenous community is the recent announcement by the Government that it has commenced discussions with the Ngun(n)awal people in relation to their native title claim in the ACT. On 29 April 1997 a legal team engaged by the representative body for the Ngun(n)awal people formally presented a claim for native title to the Chief Minister and the Attorney-General. In responding to this claim the Government has clearly stated that it wants negotiations with the Ngun(n)awal people to proceed on a cooperative basis, avoiding expensive, adversarial, lengthy and perhaps even acrimonious court proceedings. Such a process, I believe, will find negotiated and accepted solutions consistent with the Native Title Act and consistent with the spirit of reconciliation. I mention these processes only because they are indicative of the clear commitment on the part of the Government to address issues of reconciliation positively.

Members will recall that 27 May this year was the thirtieth anniversary of the 1967 referendum. That referendum, passed in 1967 with over 90 per cent of the people voting yes, gave the Commonwealth power to make laws for indigenous people, and for the first time allowed indigenous people to be counted in the national census of this country. This historic event was celebrated across Australia recently and a reception commemorating the referendum was held in this building on 27 May this year. At that reception the Chief Minister commented that she was delighted to be able to join all the guests in commemorating such an important occasion, stating that the 1967 referendum was one event that changed the face of Australian politics and demonstrated a commitment to justice and a fair go for all. Similarly, today I feel deeply that it is personally important that I am able to contribute to this important debate.

Some would argue that in the 30 years since that referendum was passed the Commonwealth has not been overactive in exercising its power. Others would argue that the chief response of governments generally to Aboriginal issues has been to throw money at them. But governments alone cannot resolve Aboriginal issues or achieve reconciliation; nor will money alone. The only effective basis for achieving reconciliation is the will of the people that they should live in communities in which colour, creed or any other generic measure have no part in accepting one person's values more than those of another. The most enduring foundations for complete and lasting Aboriginal reconciliation will be built from such things as willingness on all sides to approach the subject with an open mind, readiness in all Australians to confront their prejudices and test them against the standard of fair behaviour, and an acknowledgment by all of us that the colour of a person's skin is utterly irrelevant to that person's worth.

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