National Reconciliation Week

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:21): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation. Will the minister update the council on the diverse events held around the state for the 2014 National Reconciliation Week?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:22): I thank the honourable member for his very important question. Last week, of course, was National Reconciliation Week. It is an important event in our state's calendar and an opportunity for everyone in the state to show their commitment to reconciliation.

National Reconciliation Week takes place every year from 27 May until 3 June, and the dates mark two highly significant events in our nation's history on reconciliation. The date 27 May marks the anniversary of Australia's most successful referendum in 1967. On this day over 90 per cent of Australians voted to give the commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognise them in the national census for the first time. On 3 June 1992 the High Court of Australia delivered its landmark Mabo decision. This decision legally recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a special relationship to the land that existed prior to colonisation and that still exists today. This recognition paved the way for native title land rights.

National Reconciliation Week provides us with the opportunity to take stock of how far we have come in achieving reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. It is also time to acknowledge what we still need to do and to reaffirm our commitment to doing it. That is why the theme of this year's Reconciliation Week was 'Let's walk the talk.' It says that unless we are prepared to turn our words into action, we will fail to achieve our goals.

That is why I am so pleased that this parliament recognised the first peoples of South Australia in our state constitution last year. I hope that will drive everyone in South Australia to join the Recognise campaign to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia's Constitution. It is also why we are designing special legislation—the first of its kind in Australia—to recognise the self-determining governance structures of Aboriginal nations in South Australia and their unique cultural identity.

These are significant and powerful steps toward reconciliation. We also recognise that the goal of reconciliation can only be achieved if we all do our part. This is why individual reconciliation action plans are so important and why I believe that this state parliament should embrace a reconciliation action plan for the parliament, something I will be urging the JPSC to consider in the near future.

I was pleased when earlier this year South Australian government agencies came together to collectively launch their RAPs (reconciliation plans) and statements of commitment. These important documents are designed to drive better relations between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. RAPs provide an important platform of engagement but, in order to be effective, they also have to be acted on. Again, we need to walk the talk. It is imperative that we all hold each other accountable for action that improves the lives of Aboriginal South Australians.

The program for Reconciliation Week in South Australia featured 52 events and activities and there was truly something for people of all ages and interests in those programs. There were breakfasts, morning teas, barbecues, lunches and walks along the Torrens, with instruction on the cultural history of the area. There was an enormous range of events: language classes, art exhibitions, free movie screenings, talks, as I said, and interactive displays. It was great to see the breadth of locations hosting these many events around the city and the state. These included schools, universities, government departments, hospitals, community groups and service providers. I attended about 13 of these events. I was impressed by the hard work and commitment demonstrated by both organisers and participants.

Having such a broad range of events provides an opportunity for non-Aboriginal South Australians to learn more about Aboriginal culture and the history of Aboriginal people in South Australia. I look forward to even more events being put on the calendar for next year.