2016-02-17
Upon return to Parliament next week the Australian Greens will seek to table a petition urging Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to show leadership and stand against Alan Jones' 'Stolen Generation' comments.
“Malcolm Turnbull spruiked his intention to make progress on Closing the Gap last week in Parliament as he released the Closing the Gap report”, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
“During his speech he used innovation buzzwords and made plenty of promises on how we can reduce overwhelming disadvantage for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
“This week, a radio host with a high public profile made denigrating statements about the need for another Stolen Generation. We need some leadership from the Prime Minister on this.
“Alan Jones’ comments are atrocious, particularly after the Close the Gap report.
“These comments are not appropriate ever, but came at a time of particular grieving for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community so soon after the anniversary of the Apology and at a time when they are confronting news that Closing the Gap efforts are faltering.
“Alan Jones’ comments are uninformed and awful. A huge number of children including Aboriginal kids are being taken from families around Australia as we speak.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander children are ten times more likely to be in out of home care, we need to be focusing on how to reduce that, not making ridiculous comments about the need to increase the number of kids going into care.
“Calling for another Stolen Generation is hurtful and insulting to all those affected by the terrible practices and approach and represents an attitude not conducive to genuinely Closing the Gap in Australia. It must be addressed”.