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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-11-01 Daily Xml
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Anti-Racism Strategy

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (14:44): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Will the minister please inform the council about his attendance at the government's yarning circle to launch South Australia's Anti-Racism Strategy?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:44): I thank the honourable member for his question. I recently had the privilege to attend a yarning circle for the first part of the launch of the South Australian government's Anti-Racism Strategy. This yarning circle held at Tauondi Aboriginal College is the first component in the two-part launch, with many senior public sector leaders and ministers in attendance, including my colleagues the Hon. Katrine Hildyard, the Hon. Joe Szakacs, the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment and the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity, to name a few who attended recently.

Once the second part of the launch has taken place, the strategy will outline how the South Australian government is developing a public sector workforce that is culturally capable and seeks to stamp out racism in all its forms. Importantly, this work supports the government's commitment under the Closing the Gap program and many of the commitments it has made under its multicultural and ethnic affairs policy to remove this type of inequality and promote inclusion within the public sector.

The strategy and action plan draw upon extensive community consultation, including leaders from Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. It showcases the government's commitment to combat racism in all its forms and provide a clear road map for policy, initiatives, education and community engagement. This is an active way in which the government can work towards creating a more inclusive, equitable public sector workforce and society in general.

The recent yarning circle provided a platform for ministers and senior public sector officials from various sectors to come together and engage in discussions about experiences, the impacts of racism in society and how to address the issue. As we all know, it is imperative that change needs to be supported and enforced at the highest levels.

The yarning circle's focus on Aboriginal voices and perspectives was a very strong feature. It involved Aboriginal leaders such as Uncle Lewis O'Brien and his son Uncle Mickey O'Brien who shared their personal experiences and stories, shedding light on some of the deep-rooted issues in the community. Their firsthand perspective was a powerful reminder of why it's important to address these issues collectively. It was also a privilege to hear the views of Tilly Coulthard and her aspirations for how the strategy could increase Aboriginal retention and engagement in the public sector.

One key takeaway from the yarning circle was recognising the intersection of racism with other forms of discrimination and the need to craft policies and strategies that are inclusive and effective. The yarning circle also highlighted the role of education and awareness in combating racism, and the collective experience and knowledge shared by participants underscored the need for open dialogue and learning about diverse cultural perspectives. I am very much looking forward to the final stages of the launch of the strategy and the action plan later this month.

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