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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (4 December) . . Page.. 4610 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

they mean to them, but I am very disturbed at how they have missed what is happening in Australia now. Mr Cornwell said that I have jumped on the Wik bandwagon. I will leap on the Wik bandwagon, Mr Cornwell. This is a critical time in Australia for all Australians. This is not a national issue that sits out there separate from individual Australians today. This is an issue that we all must address in our consciences.

The General Assembly of the Local Government Association last month, at which 540 councils of the 730 in Australia were represented by 800 delegates, carried virtually unanimously - with just one or two or three people dissenting - a motion of support for the validity of native title, support for the whole community to seek a consensual response to native title rather than promoting litigation and legislative intervention - that is, negotiation, not legislation - and support for the principle of coexistence. Obviously, the General Assembly of the Local Government Association of Australia did think it was appropriate to look at the issue of Wik, native title and reconciliation. They also unanimously supported a statement saying that they supported reconciliation and expressed deep and sincere regret at the hurt and distress caused by policies which forcibly removed Aboriginal children from their families and homes. It recognised that a great injustice was inflicted on Aboriginal peoples in the name of assimilation and integration and so on. It was similar to the motion that we had in this place.

This is not just a national issue. This is an issue for every single Australian. I find it extremely disappointing that this is not understood by Mr Cornwell and Mr Hird. It is interesting to see that there is such agreement at the local government level. They are the people who have to live together. People who are living together and working with this on the ground want reconciliation, want coexistence and are supporting that we work in a consensual way.

One of the other points raised by Mr Cornwell that I would like to address is that the indigenous people have not asked for these flags to be placed here. Indigenous people in Australia are saying that they want desperately to see the support of all Australians for them. They feel they are once again being dispossessed of their land. I expressed in my initial speech the importance of land to the spirit, self-esteem and morale of indigenous people. Indigenous people are being threatened in a way that is incredibly significant. By putting the flags in the chamber we are saying, "Yes, we support you". I have also had individual discussions with people in the ACT who have said they would very much like to see such a symbolic gesture from this Assembly.

I find it difficult to respond to Mr Hird's comments about all the different flags. I think I have covered it. He has totally missed the point about the most critical social issue that we are facing at the moment in Australia. Fundamental to our identity as a nation is the recognition that most of us came here from other places, that this land was inhabited when we arrived and that we have treated and are treating the original inhabitants shamefully. By having the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags permanently in this chamber we as a legislature are acknowledging our indigenous people. We are acknowledging that we are on Ngunnawal land and that we are committed to reconciliation with them.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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