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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 7 Hansard (4 June) . . Page.. 1865 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

In light of this fact, we are forgiven for thinking that, in the face of such opposing views and in the face of such precedence, the outcome of Eddie Mabo's challenge to white law was just a formality, but it was far from it. After 10 long years it is hard to imagine the emotion of the plaintiffs tempered by the recent passing of Eddie Mabo, when the court read:

In the result, six members of the Court are in agreement that the common law of this country recognises a form of native title which, in the cases where it has not been extinguished, reflects the entitlement of the indigenous inhabitants, in accordance with their laws or customs, to their traditional lands and that, subject to the effect of some particular Crown leases, the land entitlement of the Murray Islanders in accordance with their laws or customs is preserved, as native title, under the law of Queensland.

It was the challenge for the ages that will have reverberations for a long time. We are extremely lucky to have Eddie Mabo's papers here in Canberra at the National Library, and I encourage Canberrans to go to the library to look at the papers, to look at the photographs and to read about Eddie Mabo and his struggle for identity.

The full Mabo agenda has yet to be fulfilled and will continue to challenge the Australian community and legal system as Australians increasingly become an inclusive society. As we move forward in improving the status of the first Australians, it is important that we acknowledge the clear milestones-the 40th anniversary of indigenous suffrage and the 10th anniversary of Mabo Day-that have been achieved throughout the struggle for voting, land and representational rights.

MR SPEAKER: The time for the discussion has expired.

Gaming Machine (Women's Sports) Amendment Bill 2002

MR STANHOPE (Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Minister for Community Affairs and Minister for Women) (4.45): Mr Speaker, I do not wish to speak for long in the debate on this bill. This is a significant and very good piece of legislation. I urge the members of the Assembly to support it as it is.

We all know, perhaps in detail, the extent to which women's sport in the ACT, in Canberra and in Australia, does not get either the support or recognition it deserves. It is one of those things that really are beyond debate. It cannot be gainsaid.

In any discussion about sport, and inequality between men and women in sport, we need to be mindful of the notion, or terminology, of women's sport. There is men's sport and there is women's sport, but we should not imply that, in some way, one is different from the other. It is simply the case that we all play sport. Men and women play sport but we differentiate between them. We differentiate in the level of resources provided to women in their pursuit of sport; we differentiate, throughout the community, in the provision of facilities; and we differentiate on infrastructure and recognition for women who play sport. I am not aware of the statistics or the details, but I have seen them. I know things are changing but they are changing slowly.

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