Page 4726 - Week 13 - Thursday, 28 November 2019
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It is rare that all three parties can stand united on an issue. I think that it is extremely positive that we can take a tripartisan approach to reaffirming the importance of Indigenous languages. A quote that I read recently, that got me thinking, was, “Language is a road map of culture. It tells you where people come from and where they are going.”
This is true of any language, any people, country or region. However, what is different for Australia’s first people is that many of their languages have been lost. I would like to acknowledge the work of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, who have done a remarkable job in bringing back Indigenous language, not just here for Ngunnawal but right across the country. That is why I am pleased to stand here today to outline the Canberra Liberals’ support for this motion.
Having the acknowledgement of country spoken by our Speaker in the Ngunnawal language is a small but significant gesture. Learning and using Indigenous language is important not just for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples but for everyone in the Canberra community. The more language that is shared and understood, the more likely it is that it will endure and never be lost again. The more we, as non-Indigenous Australians, learn about our first people, the better we can work together towards a shared future.
That is what the Canberra Liberals have in fact been doing: listening, learning and trying to understand the issues impacting our community. As referenced in this motion, in March this year we released our policy document, a publication called “Improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of the ACT”. This publication marked a significant turning point for Indigenous affairs in the ACT, as it showed what can be achieved by really getting to the bottom of the issues impacting the daily lives of our local community.
The overarching policy statement enshrined the way that we want to approach these issues as a political party. We want to work with and empower the Indigenous community to reach their potential. We know that they have their own stories and strengths to inform their futures. We do not want to tell Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people what they need; we do not want to impose mainstream solutions if there is an alternative.
We want to foster real and meaningful policy solutions so that the community can really demonstrate self-determination. We want to enable community organisations to nurture and grow future leaders. We want to support kids at school to pursue their dreams and establish healthy habits at a young age. Providing tutoring, bringing the Clontarf Foundation to Canberra and supporting Gugan Gulwan with better facilities are all part of this plan.
We want to support families with flexible and culturally appropriate health care. We want families to have choice when it comes to housing, and we want to return Boomanulla Oval to community control. This is where we could potentially see an Indigenous language centre established, at the Boomanulla Oval centre. We want to support more Indigenous businesses to grow and emerge, and create new talent.
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