Aboriginal Veterans Commemorative Service

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:47): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs regarding the Aboriginal Veterans Commemorative Service 2024. Will the minister inform the council about the recent Aboriginal Veterans Commemorative Service held during Reconciliation Week?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:48): I thank the honourable member for his question. As always, it was an honour to attend the Aboriginal Veterans Commemorative Service held during Reconciliation Week at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial on the Torrens Parade Ground. Each year, this service poignantly acknowledges and commemorates First Nations people who have served in the Australian defence forces since the Second Boer War, despite often exclusion faced by a significant portion of this community upon their return after providing service to the nation.

This year, an incredibly thought-provoking keynote address was delivered by Sergeant Roger Morris, an Aboriginal man and current serving member of the Australian Army, now based in Adelaide. Sergeant Morris gave an important speech recounting memories from his childhood and his Aboriginal ancestry on both sides of his family. It was this memory that largely shaped his decision to join the Army, with several generations of his Aboriginal relatives before him having served in the defence forces in various capacities.

Sergeant Morris spoke very bravely and candidly about instances of racism that Aboriginal serving members have faced in the Defence Force both in days gone by, as was recounted to him by his relatives, but also the unfortunate continuation of some elements of that behaviour today, acknowledging that the Australian Defence Force has more work to do to ensure that each Aboriginal service man and woman is always treated with the same unwavering dignity and respect as all of their counterparts.

Sergeant Morris spoke about the importance of people asking questions and wanting to learn about Aboriginal culture and customs and doing so in a way showing the respect that Aboriginal culture demands. Having completed his study through the ADF, the multitalented footballer Sergeant Morris recounted his experience as being very rewarding. He enjoyed as an Army engineer 'building things and then blowing them up', as he described a deployment interstate.

As is tradition, attendees at the service were fortunate to be led by Aunty Vonda Last in song, this year in an a cappella version as the sound system did not work as well as it should during very strong winds. I had the privilege of laying a tribute at the memorial alongside others in attendance, including my colleague in another place the member for Waite, Cathy Hutchesson.

The service is presented each year by Aboriginal Veterans SA, who undertake critical and important work in recognising the service of past Aboriginal veterans and supporting current and future veterans in the Australian Defence Force. I commend the work of all who were involved and look forward to next year's attendance.