Page 4722 - Week 13 - Thursday, 28 November 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
As noted in the motion, there is interest from the community in establishing a Ngunnawal language centre, and we must ensure that the community members highlighting the need for such a centre are included in the consultation about which words will be used. The establishment of a Ngunnawal language centre in and of itself will support the community to fill in the gaps in Ngunnawal language, noting that at this time it does not have everyday application.
It is my hope that in the future Ngunnawal language will be taught in local schools. First languages across the nation are currently endangered and it would be a positive step if we were able to teach all children at least a few words. Many people know how to say hello in foreign languages such as French, German, Spanish, Indonesian, Japanese or Chinese, but very few know how to say hello in a first nation language. How wonderful it would be if simple Aboriginal words became part of our everyday vernacular in the years to come. That is my hope, and this motion is but one small step in that direction.
Finally, the motion calls on the Assembly to amend the standing orders accordingly to ensure that an accurate reflection of the words used is recorded in daily minutes and Hansard. Currently Hansard and daily minutes record only that an acknowledgement of traditional custodians was made and do not reflect the actual words spoken in the chamber.
I am aware that this consultation process may take some time, but I hope that it commences before the end of this year to enable agreement of the words to be used and enactment of the intent of this motion in 2020 before the next election. I note that there is already an agreement for the first sitting day of the Tenth Assembly to commence with a welcome to country given by local traditional custodians. This motion ensures that Ngunnawal language will be spoken on every sitting day, conceivably preceding this event and setting the scene for that day, but definitely continuing thereafter in that spirit. This goes some way to preserving the world’s longest continuous living culture and affords the Ngunnawal the respect they deserve as traditional custodians of this land on which we live, work and play.
I thank Veronica Wensing from our team for the significant work she has put in to consulting with the elders and doing the research behind this to make sure that the Assembly approaches this correctly and that we share as much knowledge as we can learn with our community through this process. This motion demonstrates our yindyamurra—our respect for the Ngunnawal people of this region—and I commend this motion to the Assembly.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Children, Youth and Families, Minister for Health and Minister for Urban Renewal) (10.39): I thank Mr Rattenbury for introducing this motion. It is a pleasure to rise on behalf of ACT Labor to jointly sponsor and to support this motion today. As Mr Rattenbury said, it is important that we have tripartite support for the motion in this place. This follows the precedent set of tripartisan support for Reconciliation Day and for the move to acknowledge the traditional custodians each day in this place, as we now do.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video