Page 1770 - Week 05 - Thursday, 10 May 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
another step towards social and cultural recognition. But what I would prefer to see in this chamber and for the Indigenous people of Canberra is better public policy. I believe this can occur with smarter use of funds that provide more efficient and more effective investment in Indigenous Canberrans. With all the resources and attention given to this policy area, why can this government not produce better outcomes across justice, health, education and community services?
The government must stop using reviews, reports, recommendations, committee hearings and all the other bureaucratic methods to delay action. Ignoring the experience and wisdom of the local community, engaging only with the select few and chosen elite needs to stop. Implementing mainstream solutions to complex problems in the Indigenous community simply does not work. The Canberra Liberals support this motion, but we demand vision, foresight, action and commitment. The time for talk is over; good intentions need to translate into benefits and improvements for the local Indigenous community.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (11.33): I welcome the proposal put forward by Ms Stephen-Smith today to have a daily acknowledgement of country in the Assembly. This is an important tradition we have, and it has built up over time in Canberra. It is a small step on the path to reconciliation. There are many small steps that must be taken, and this is one that adds to the journey. It is an important part of shaping the true history of Australia—that is, that we understand our history goes back many tens of thousands of years. It is a deep and rich history, and the acknowledgement of country is part of telling that story and sharing it each day that we sit in this place.
As many members in this place will have had the experience, I have observed many welcomes to country at various public events that we go to. They are invariably different each time, and I think it is fair to say that even now, many years down the track of going to many public events where they are held, I often learn something new from a welcome to country. Each elder does it somewhat differently. They relate different bits of history; they relate their perspectives; they relate their own lived experiences as part of the welcome to country. And sometimes they just relate pools of wisdom. But the process is one that enriches our public events when the elders do it. Making that recognition on a regular basis in the Assembly is a very important part of continuing to build our journey of reconciliation and to make sure we understand the long and proud history of our Aboriginal people in Australia. The Greens are very pleased to support this proposed amendment today.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Privileges 2018 (No 2)—Select Committee
Establishment
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (11.35), by leave: I move:
That the Assembly:
(1) notes:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video