NAIDOC AWARDS

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (16:51): It was my honour last evening to be present at the 2011 Premier's NAIDOC Awards in the Lyrics Room at the Adelaide Festival Theatre in the presence of the Premier; the Lieutenant-Governor and Chairman of the Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, Hieu Van Le; the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Grace Portolesi, who also acted as MC; the Leader of the Opposition, Isobel Redmond; former premier of South Australia Lynn Arnold; my parliamentary colleague Terry Stephens; distinguished members from the South Australian Council of Elders; Commissioners for Aboriginal Engagement Khatija Thomas and Klynton Wanganeen; patrons, ambassadors and members of Aboriginal organisations and the wider South Australian Aboriginal community.

The Premier acknowledged, as the Speaker does here each week, that we meet on the traditional lands of the Kaurna people and that their deep spiritual relationship with the country is respected and acknowledged. The Premier reminded all present that it will be 40 years next week since the Aboriginal flag was officially flown for the first time in Australia, a landmark occasion that took place right here in Adelaide. It was in July 1971 that the black, red and yellow flag was hoisted above Victoria Square, now also known as Tarndanyangga, on the occasion of National Aborigines Day. I am aware also that the same flag was flown for the first time at the Adelaide Town Hall at the insistence of Monica Whitman, who was also present last night.

The flying of the flag was a moment of long overdue recognition of Aboriginal people and Aboriginal culture. The year 1971 was an important one for historic firsts: Neville Bonner became the first Indigenous Australian to take a seat in our federal parliament, and Evonne Goolagong became the first Aboriginal woman to be named Australian of the Year.

Monday's official flag-raising ceremony in Victoria Square is an integral event amid this week's many and varied NAIDOC activities to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. On Friday I will join the annual NAIDOC march through the city to the family fun day at Elder Park, and Saturday night's NAIDOC Ball will be the finale to a week of events throughout Adelaide, regional South Australia and across the nation.

All these events will carry this year's theme, 'Change: The Next Step is Ours'. We must all take responsibility to help meet the challenges confronting Aboriginal people, especially those in remote communities. We must all do whatever we can to help bring about the changes needed to close the gap in opportunities, in knowledge and in understanding and assist wherever possible the changes that will provide for real choice, to better enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to take their chosen path through better access to education and employment. In the state's mining industry we see a fine example of closing the gap, with OZ Minerals winning the inaugural Premier's Award for Social Inclusion for best delivering tangible social dividends to the wider South Australian community at its Prominent Hill operation near Coober Pedy.

Aboriginal people themselves continue to work for change, working with all levels of government through various means: the Aboriginal Advisory Council, chaired by Parry Agius; the Office of the Commissioner of Aboriginal Engagement, which provides an independent public voice for Aboriginal people and whose commissioners are Khatija Thomas and Klynton Wanganeen; groups like ANTaR, the Journey of Healing, and Reconciliation SA co-chaired most ably by Peter Buckskin and Robyn Layton.

For 54 years, NAIDOC Week has seen the contribution of outstanding individuals recognised. All three nominees for the Premier's award this year, Kevin Richardson, Lester-Irabinna Rigney and Vince Coulthard, have made a significant contributions, and Vince Coulthard won the award.

Last night we also had the Premier and minister, assisted by Shirley Peisley, present 12 Aboriginal women with the Gladys Elphick Centenary Medal. They were: Ms Annette Groat, Ms Liz Tongerie, Polly Sumner, Ms Katrina Power—who made a fantastic speech—Ms April Lawrie Smith, Ms Natascha Champion, Ms Sharron Williams, Ms Sharon Clarke, Ms Rosemary Wanganeen, Ms Muriel VanderByl—who also made a fantastic speech and was a very hard act to follow—Ms June McInerney and Ms Bev Frahm. The medal winners will also be added to the Aboriginal Women's Honour Roll which was announced earlier this year as part of the Centenary of International Women's Day celebrations.

At the Lord Mayor's morning tea earlier this week NAIDOC Awards were presented to: Person of the Year, Chris Koolmatrie; Person of the Year, Paul Tanner; Young Female of the Year, Naomi Parrott; Young Male of the Year, Delahay Miller; Female Elder of the Year, Christine Wilson; Male Elder of the Year, Murray George; Scholar of the Year, Kudnarto Joy Watson; Trainee of the Year, Tarita Chester; Sportsperson of the Year, Ajay Nguyen; and the Event of the Year was the South-East Aboriginal Focus Groups, which included the making of a traditional bark canoe and the DVD Moggy's Yuki.

The NAIDOC Week celebrations, as I said, will continue until Saturday night. I urge all members who are able to, to take part in the march on Friday and go down to Elder Park and have a good look at what is happening. I see the member for Morphett nodding. He has been there many, many times. He is fluent in Pitjantjatjara, and I am sure he will insist, as well, that we all take part in as many activities as possible.