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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-13 Daily Xml
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STOLEN GENERATIONS

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:51): I want to acknowledge that we meet here on the traditional lands of the Kaurna people on this very special day, a day when the first Australians are truly acknowledged and honoured. It was wonderful to see the gallery full today—and with so many Aboriginal people—when the Premier spoke. Earlier today, like many hundreds of Adelaideians, I watched the Prime Minister deliver his speech via the large screens in Elder Park. In the crowd that had gathered, I felt the same feeling I had when probably the same crowd walked across the bridge. I feel hope and I feel excited about the sort of Australian society that is before us. There were many similar crowds all over Australia, although none more marvellous than the crowd gathered in Canberra on the area around the Tent Embassy and the great boulevard leading from Old Parliament House to the area in front of new Parliament House; and in the Gallery and the Great Hall people gathered to share the special feeling today has generated.

Today's 'sorry' has given us the chance to talk together about hurt. The recognition of past hurts is a powerful moment for anyone in the journey each of us makes in our lifetime. We all have an understanding of how hurt can happen. We have all felt hurt, carried it and, no doubt, each of us has inflicted hurt on others. What matters though, whatever side of hurt we are on, is finding the time to put things right, to tell and to listen to each other's feelings, and then how we act when the moment comes to make things right. We must decide that hurt and the sadness it brings to all parties has no place in our lives and we must work actively to eliminate it. Just as we must work to eliminate bullying—another negative action so prominent in everyday life, an act that inflicts similar misery and also destroys spirit.

Saying sorry is not a token gesture. The amount of feeling that has been generated about today's apology is testament to that. We are not only saying something to Aboriginal people, we are acknowledging what has been done to them and undertaking to prevent such things in the future and to make amends. It is about healing ourselves as well and recognising the humanity we have in common. It is another step on the long journey of reconciliation. Former premier Lynn Arnold (soon to retire from his role at World Vision) recently spoke about the common wheel of which we are all spokes—needing each other to progress, united in our endeavour to move forward. That notion stands against the notion of commonwealth which commodifies human life.

A democratic society aims to recognise the worth of each and every person and is governed by the rule of law which was created in the hope that everyone is treated equally, has access to opportunity and the means to participation. We do not all start from the same spot and we each have different potential. However, we should have the same regard for each other and respect the different talents and strengths that we possess. 'Human rights' is a term we all know. Most of us in Australia define that term as access to education and health services and a good job that pays the bills. In other countries it means access to the more basic things of life, things we all take for granted such as food, water, power and shelter. Sadly, all these are things that many Aboriginal people all over Australia still need.

It is important to listen to what people want and how they want to live their lives and to give them a voice in their own future. In this place I speak for my constituents, namely, the residents of Florey in the north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide. I acknowledge the work of the Florey Reconciliation Task Force: Shirley Peisley, Vi Deushler, Sharlene Iuliano and her mum, Joan Lamont. With their work and that of Tabitha Lean and Simon Peisley, we were able to form a group that generated momentum in our community. Many other great Aboriginal people have shared their wisdom. People such as Uncle Lewis O'Brian, Lowitja O'Donoghue, Muriel Van der Byl, Val Power, Doris Kartinyeri, Peter Buckskin, Auntie Josie, Tim and others of the Agius family. It took a long time to gain their trust and to learn their stories and insights and the struggle of their parents, grandparents and ancestors. They have a special affinity with the land. They understand the land because they are from it. The land needs an apology, too, they say. The spirit of the land needs nurture as well. I cannot speak for Aboriginal people. Perhaps one day soon I hope there will be an Aboriginal member in this house.

But I can today speak for my friend Katrina Power, who has asked me to put a few things on record. She says that Aboriginal people have waited 220 years for this apology, and it is accepted, with their future hopes and dreams that all Aboriginal Australians will enjoy the same quality of life as everyone else in this country. She has said that this is a new beginning, and thanks Kevin Rudd for his goodwill and intestinal fortitude to bring the stolen generation issue to the fore.

Katrina said that Aboriginal people's pain has been diagnosed, acknowledged and respected, and that it takes two people to speak the truth—one to listen and the other to hear. Aboriginal people have a Dreaming, and today is a new dream that has come their way. She says that they are inspired, their hopes for reconciliation are reignited, and that together she hopes we can make one track, working together, to fulfil our hopes of standing and walking forward to create a new future together. Now we all have new hopes for the Australia that we all want to be in, let the healing begin.

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