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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-05-26 Daily Xml
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National Reconciliation Week

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:29): A supplementary, again to the Premier: would you consider writing to the Joint Parliamentary Service Committee and organising a function for next year's Reconciliation Week?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (15:29): Of course, any member of the parliament can do that, and I would encourage them to do that. As I have outlined, obviously the flag recognition on the building today for National Sorry Day and the permanent flag flying in this parliament is very much appreciated.

I think that there are other practical things that we can do. I for one was very keen to see the Balcony Room reappointed, let's just say, and I am very pleased to see that the very first exhibition, which is in that Balcony Room, is a wonderful recognition of the incredible Aboriginal art that we have in South Australia. I think that's another practical way that this parliament is demonstrating that it is committed to reconciliation.

I have received many, many comments from people coming into parliament and heading up to the newly refurbished Balcony Room that they are very pleased to see that wonderful art so very beautifully displayed. In my own office, I was very fortunate for the Art Gallery of South Australia to place on loan with me a wonderful portrait of David Unaipon who, as you would know, sir, was an incredible Australian inventor and appeared on the $50 note. In fact, I am not sure; he may still appear on the $50 note. I don't have many of those left.

Ms Bedford: He usurped Florey.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Did he? Well, if anybody was to usurp Florey for that, I am sure David Unaipon would be a very worthy person to do so. I think we all have an obligation to continue to look for practical ways in which we can advance reconciliation. In terms of my government, we have now issued our second iteration of the Aboriginal Action Plan, which is focused on three key themes: creating more jobs, improved services and also improving overall capacity around governance for Aboriginal-controlled organisations. As a parliament, we have the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee, which I have served on alongside many people in this house and, of course, in the other place.

Whilst there has been much work done, I think we all appreciate there is much work to be done both at a parliamentary level and, importantly, at a government level. That's one of the things that I am very, very committed to doing. It's one of the reasons why in the most recent budget we increased the forecast budget for the Aboriginal Art and Cultures Centre—because we think this is a very practical way of demonstrating reconciliation, promoting more than 60,000 years of Aboriginal songs and storylines and, I think, also creating a space of global significance which will help us to promote the incredible culture and history that we have in South Australia and bring people to our state.

Ms Bedford: So that's a no, then.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Florey is called to order.

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