2023-10-18
The Prime Minister made a commitment to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full and he must keep that promise at a pivotal moment for Indigenous Australians.
Comments attributable to Greens portfolio holder for First Nations, Resources, Trade, Tourism and Sport, and Yamatji Noongar woman, Senator Dorinda Cox:
“Australians heard Anthony Albanese promise to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full.
“He made the commitment in the second sentence of his victory speech, broadcast across the nation, right after his Acknowledgement of Country and I urge him not to walk that back or water down that very clear and strong pledge. He absolutely must deliver on that assurance.
“The Albanese Labor government must lay the groundwork for lasting First Nations justice through a $250 million commitment to an independent Truth and Justice Commission following a toxic and corrosive misinformation campaign pushed by Peter Dutton.
“The referendum should have been an opportunity to unify and heal Australia, but sadly it failed and that was deeply devastating and disappointing for First Nations people after many, many years of working to achieve bipartisanship on the issue of constitutional recognition.
“It is our government’s responsibility to find a way to achieve better outcomes for all Australians, including First Nations Australians and I urge the Prime Minister to be a man of his word on supporting the Uluru Statement from the Heart.”
BACKGROUND
A truth-telling process involves exploring, understanding, and reckoning with our painful past and the impact it continues to have on First Nations people and their cultures.
The Truth and Justice Commission will be an independent body that investigates and reveals past wrongdoing to resolve ongoing and historical conflict and heal from it.
The Commission will have the powers of a Royal Commission and will investigate and reveal wrongdoing and human rights abuses perpetrated against First Nations people since colonisation to the present day.
The Truth and Justice Commission will lay the foundations for agreement making between governments and First Nations people, as well as foster healing and national unity based on truth-telling.
The Commission’s work will be underpinned by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and led by First Nations people.