2015-09-16
Ms PENNICUIK (Southern Metropolitan) — It was an honour to be present yesterday along with members of Victoria's Aboriginal communities, members of Parliament and members of the public to see the historic raising of the Australian Aboriginal flag above Parliament House, where it will now fly permanently in recognition of and respect for all Aboriginal people, both past and present and into the future. Boon Wurrung elder Carolyn Briggs gave a generous welcome to country, and her grandsons conducted the smoking ceremony.
Members of Parliament who spoke yesterday both at the flag-raising ceremony on the front steps and later in both chambers did so with goodwill. Some made the point that the occasion was long overdue and that there are differing views within Victoria's Aboriginal communities about its significance.
The Aboriginal flag was originally designed in 1971 by artist Harold Thomas for the land rights movement and was proclaimed an official flag of Australia in 1995, although it is reported that Harold Thomas said that the flag did not need any more recognition. The Aboriginal flag is now well known by the wider community. Its permanent presence above Parliament House will be a daily reminder to us all of what has been achieved but also that there is much work we still need to do to achieve reconciliation and recognition and to close the gaps that still exist in health, education, wellbeing and life expectancy.
I congratulate the government and the Presiding Officers on their work in bringing this about. Walking up Bourke Street this morning it was fantastic to see the Aboriginal flag flying in the breeze above Parliament House. I believe it will make a positive difference for people to see the Aboriginal flag flying above this place every day when it was not there before.