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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-06-04 Daily Xml
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ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER VETERANS

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:32): Will the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation advise how the government of South Australia has contributed to the recognition of the military service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:33): I thank the honourable member for her most important question and her ongoing interest in these areas. As everyone in this chamber would agree, I think for far too long the commitment, sacrifice and contribution of our nation's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans has gone unrecognised. Their commitment is certainly deserving of additional recognition and respect given that it came at a time when they faced discrimination and injustice across society. They were paid less and they even lacked the full constitutional rights as other service men and women, such as the right to be counted in the census.

Aboriginal men and women have served in every conflict Australia has been involved in, from the Boer War to the present day. Many have reported distinguished service but many were forced to remain silent about their cultural heritage. They fought alongside their non-Aboriginal comrades. They were taken as prisoners of war. Some were decorated for gallantry, while some were wounded or killed in action, and, sadly, some lie forever in foreign soil.

When the national service scheme was established in 1964 to 1972, the birthday ballot of 21-year-old men, it was made clear that Aboriginal people were not obliged to serve. They needed to do nothing more than advise of aboriginality and they could be excused. Yet such was their spirit of service and sacrifice that many still volunteered. In recognition of this special service, in 2007 a committee was formed in South Australia. Its task was to create an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial right here in Adelaide.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial Committee is made up of distinguished Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal South Australians. They set out to fundraise for the project, and from 2008 to 2010 the committee raised approximately $200,000—an outstanding effort. Nevertheless, further funds were required and a number of prominent and leading members of the South Australian community were invited to join the fundraising appeal committee. Over the last 18 months the committee received overwhelming support from the people of South Australia and has raised $763,000. Much of this amount was donated by South Australians from all walks of life.

The state government provided $143,000 of this amount, which was matched by the commonwealth. In total the fundraising committee has now raised over $1 million. I am pleased to advise that on Friday 31 May I attended a sod-turning ceremony at the Torrens Parade Ground to celebrate the commencement of the memorial's construction. It is intended that the memorial will be unveiled by the Governor-General on 10 November this year, the day before Remembrance Day. I encourage all members of this place to be part of this special event and to put it in their diaries now.

The memorial has been designed by artists Tony Rosella, Leanne Buckskin and Michelle Nikou, and has been sculpted by well-known South Australian Robert Hannaford. It is hoped that this impressive and culturally sensitive memorial will be delivered national status, but this cannot be applied for until the memorial is complete and has been unveiled. Both the memorial and the fundraising committees deserve very special congratulations for getting this project to this point.

The chair of the memorial committee, Ms Marj Tripp, who was the first Aboriginal woman to join the Royal Australian Navy, and deputy chair, Mr Frank Lampard, who also served, have both helped steer us towards this outstanding achievement. They received very strong support from people such as Mr Frank Clarke, Mr Gil Green, Mr Les Kropinyeri, Uncle Lewis O'Brien, Ms Janine Haynes, Mr Jock Statton, Mr Mick Mummery, Mr Bill Hignett, Mr Bill Denny, Ms Alison Martens, Mr Ian Smith, Ms Rosslyn Cox, Mr Mark Waters and Ms Jennifer Layther, with administrative support provided by the Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division, Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

A special thanks must also go to the Patron of the Memorial Committee, His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, Governor of South Australia, and Vice Patron, Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue. I also congratulate the fundraising appeal committee that stepped into the breach to help raise the funds necessary to help this dream become a reality, led by Sir Eric Neal and Mr Bill Denny. Other members include Mr Hugh MacLachlan, the Hon. Kevin Duggan, Mr Andrew Fletcher, Mr Perry Gunner, Ms Jane Kittel, the Hon. Diana Laidlaw, Ms Felicity-ann Lewis, Mr John Moriarty, Mr Lew Owens, Mr John Roberts, Mr James Sarah, Mr Ray Scott, Mr Frank Seeley, Mr Peter Siebels and Mr Jock Statton.

On behalf of the government of South Australia I thank all volunteers for their commitment to this cause of recognition for our Aboriginal veterans; their efforts and their outcomes will be forever long lasting.

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