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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (26 August) . . Page.. 2383 ..

BR MUNDINE (continuing):

In the seven years that I have lived in the ACT, I have had the privilege of knowing a few of you in this Assembly and previous Assemblies. It is good to feel that there are great people, honourable people, in our parliaments who do support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Here in this Assembly today we see another case of that. From what we are seeing in the mainstream Federal politics at the present time, I have to really wonder about morals within our society and the lack of them. But at least here in this forum you have shown that you do have a good moral stance.

I must warn you also about this report. This report is just another one of many - a very important and significant one, but just another one of many - the last being the most important one that I have seen, which was the report into deaths in custody. I just wonder how much of a commitment you really have to this particular report and also to others that have gone before. It is important, because we hear too often the rhetoric out there, and sometimes not that much is seen in the way of action. It is good to see, though, that this Assembly has committed itself to an agreement with the Ngunnawal people. As I said recently in a meeting with the Chief Minister with other members present, as well as Bishop George Browning, I see land as a very important stepping stone in the process of reconciliation, of reparation, here. For Aboriginal people, land is the basis of who we are. As Pat Dodson has often said, "I am the land and the land is me".

There is a group here in the ACT that you can negotiate with. I must say again, as I said at that meeting, because I do not think it was heard: From our side, as Aboriginal people, we too must get our act together. We have here a Government that wishes to rectify some of the past wrongs; but we on our side must also begin to reconcile with one another so that we can resolve these issues in the future. As I said at the beginning, it is the first, important step. There is more and more to be done, more and more action to be taken. By sitting down with the local groups and talking to them, as you have done in the past, to your credit, we will walk together out into the future. But, just in closing, I would like to quote a very famous saying: "Lest we forget".

MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Brother Mundine, for your remarks. Members, that concludes the addresses to the Assembly. I would like to thank the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the ACT and surrounding region for participating in this historic event. I think it is very appropriate that representatives of our indigenous fellow Australians should be the first group of people who have been invited to appear before the Assembly at the bar of the Assembly. On behalf of all members, I would like to hope that your appearance and participation here will assist with the reconciliation process. Thank you.

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