HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Subject Index
Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-25 Daily Xml
Contents
Pdf Xml

AUSTRALIA DAY

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:47): We recently celebrated the foundation day of Australian history in the Australia Day awards and public holiday. As we are aware, this important holiday always attracts some debate and controversy, as witnessed this year, as to whether or not it is an inclusive day of celebration.

This year's Australian of the Year, indigenous leader and co-chair of Reconciliation Australia, Professor Mick Dodson, has questioned the suitability of the date, January 26, the day of the landing of the First Fleet in 1788. To many indigenous Australians, the date—but not the day—is inappropriate, celebrating what they see as 'invasion day'—a point of view, he maintains, that a mature Australia should, and now needs to, debate.

This is an interesting observation, given the enthusiastic acceptance of the much awaited apology to the Stolen Generation and the requirement of moral consistency in symbolic acknowledgements. Perhaps the strongest recognition of the need for reconsideration was captured in the article by football champion Che Cockatoo-Collins when he quoted the observation of the late and great Fred Hollows who, on the eve of the bicentenary, said, 'How on earth could Aboriginal people be expected to come to the party unless their rights...their sovereignty in this country is assured?'

The need for debate was also picked up by The Advertiser, which noted the merit of Professor Dodson's comment while also reviewing the incongruities and inconsistencies of the general public holiday calendar. I know that there are some members opposite who bridle at what they see as tokenism in these gestures, but we should not underestimate the importance and power of symbols as a gracious acknowledgement of common humanity, an expression of social responsibility and as a gateway to action.

We can still remember the mean, polarising and hard-edged bitterness that resulted from the Howard government's stubborn refusal to say sorry and the welcome relief generated by Prime Minister Rudd's address to the nation.

We all know that an apology by itself is not enough. There is much work to be done, but saying sorry was and is a mature and proper act. Such a view is consistent with what Justice Michael Kirby said in his farewell speech upon his retirement, that is, that it is a bridge to reconciliation. As the Prime Minister pointed out, given that Australia Day is a holiday celebrating inclusiveness, one wonders about the purpose, wisdom and tenor of the message delivered by the Hon. Peter Costello to the Australia Day United Prayer at the Melbourne Town Hall, an event hosted by the Catch the Fire Ministries.

I turn now to the awards themselves. I belatedly congratulate the 500-odd individuals who received their well-deserved recognition. While the media heralded the well-known, I want to say a little about a less heralded South Australian award winner, Mr Ray Baldwin. Mr Baldwin served in the South Australian 2/27th Infantry Battalion, which was disbanded after World War II. He served in the Middle East, in New Guinea on the Kokoda track, on the northern beaches, and in the Markham and Ramu valleys, finishing in Balikpapan, Borneo.

He temporarily returned to Australia from Port Moresby in 1943. He, along with Senator Anne McEwen's father, was one of three officers and 87 other ranks of the 2/27th who survived. Another interesting aside is the fact that he and Doug McEwen survived for 14 days without food or shelter when a group of 13 were separated and cut off from the main force at Brigade Hill in August 1942.

Mr Baldwin was instrumental in keeping the memory of the 2/27th alive and keeping the remaining 60 battalion members in touch through the battalion journal. However, last September, after 22 years, the publication was cancelled. Mr Baldwin has been recognised for his service to the 2/27th AIF Ex-Servicemen's Association with an Order of Australia medal. In closing, I congratulate Mr Ray Baldwin and all the recipients of the Australia Day awards.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT