❓ Opposition questions the Labor government's commitment to Aboriginal affairs due to the perceived lack of a specific policy during the election. The Premier defends the government's approach, highlighting existing policies and commitment to reconciliation and indigenous rights.
AnsweredQoN 22Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS POLICY
Given that throughout this week the State Government has focused on the Aboriginal community and reconciliation - which I and all members on this side applaud - can the Premier explain why the Labor Party did not regard Aboriginal affairs as important enough to warrant the release of an Aboriginal affairs policy during the election campaign, as did the coalition? Dr GALLOP
Given that throughout this week the State Government has focused on the Aboriginal community and reconciliation - which I and all members on this side applaud - can the Premier explain why the Labor Party did not regard Aboriginal affairs as important enough to warrant the release of an Aboriginal affairs policy during the election campaign, as did the coalition? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
I find that question incredible. If the Leader of the Opposition were to go through the Labor Party policies one after the other, he would find reference to the needs of our indigenous people. We understand that if we are to address the needs of those people, a number of things must happen. First, we must give proper recognition to the place of indigenous people in the history and culture of our State. Indeed, we must ask: What is it to be an Australian? Part and parcel of that answer is the special place of indigenous people in our community. We supported all of the reconciliation processes, and our spokesperson on indigenous affairs, Hon Tom Stephens, made it clear that we would give more money to support the reconciliation processes. Secondly, on the issue of native title, the Labor Party released its policy in Kalgoorlie, as the new member for Kalgoorlie would know only too well, and that policy indicated how the Labor Government would move away from litigation and focus on agreement. Thirdly, and most importantly, all our policies on health, education, crime prevention, family support and community services refer to what we need to do to improve the status and role of indigenous people. I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition would raise this matter in this Parliament, because for the eight years we were in opposition and members opposite were in government, they tried to deprive the indigenous people of this State of their rights; and I say thanks to the High Court of Australia for knocking them off 7:0. In the Opposition’s second term in government, it tried to use the John Howard 10-point plan to undermine and frustrate the rights that the High Court had established for indigenous people in Australia. We are proud to say that we did have policies in the election campaign to deal with the status of our indigenous people and with native title, and with what we will do in health, education and community services to ensure that the needs and interests of indigenous people are properly represented and promoted by this Government. I am also proud to say that the Government’s new Minister for Indigenous Affairs said to me upon our election that we needed to do something significant at the opening of the Parliament - and I thank him for raising that issue - to say to the indigenous people in general, and the Nyoongah people in particular, “You are part of our community; we are proud of you; we want you to be part of our processes.” Government members: Hear, hear!
Dr GALLOP replied: I find that question incredible. If the Leader of the Opposition were to go through the Labor Party policies one after the other, he would find reference to the needs of our indigenous people. We understand that if we are to address the needs of those people, a number of things must happen. First, we must give proper recognition to the place of indigenous people in the history and culture of our State. Indeed, we must ask: What is it to be an Australian? Part and parcel of that answer is the special place of indigenous people in our community. We supported all of the reconciliation processes, and our spokesperson on indigenous affairs, Hon Tom Stephens, made it clear that we would give more money to support the reconciliation processes. Secondly, on the issue of native title, the Labor Party released its policy in Kalgoorlie, as the new member for Kalgoorlie would know only too well, and that policy indicated how the Labor Government would move away from litigation and focus on agreement. Thirdly, and most importantly, all our policies on health, education, crime prevention, family support and community services refer to what we need to do to improve the status and role of indigenous people. I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition would raise this matter in this Parliament, because for the eight years we were in opposition and members opposite were in government, they tried to deprive the indigenous people of this State of their rights; and I say thanks to the High Court of Australia for knocking them off 7:0. In the Opposition’s second term in government, it tried to use the John Howard 10-point plan to undermine and frustrate the rights that the High Court had established for indigenous people in Australia. We are proud to say that we did have policies in the election campaign to deal with the status of our indigenous people and with native title, and with what we will do in health, education and community services to ensure that the needs and interests of indigenous people are properly represented and promoted by this Government. I am also proud to say that the Government’s new Minister for Indigenous Affairs said to me upon our election that we needed to do something significant at the opening of the Parliament - and I thank him for raising that issue - to say to the indigenous people in general, and the Nyoongah people in particular, “You are part of our community; we are proud of you; we want you to be part of our processes.” Government members: Hear, hear!
I find that question incredible. If the Leader of the Opposition were to go through the Labor Party policies one after the other, he would find reference to the needs of our indigenous people. We understand that if we are to address the needs of those people, a number of things must happen. First, we must give proper recognition to the place of indigenous people in the history and culture of our State. Indeed, we must ask: What is it to be an Australian? Part and parcel of that answer is the special place of indigenous people in our community. We supported all of the reconciliation processes, and our spokesperson on indigenous affairs, Hon Tom Stephens, made it clear that we would give more money to support the reconciliation processes. Secondly, on the issue of native title, the Labor Party released its policy in Kalgoorlie, as the new member for Kalgoorlie would know only too well, and that policy indicated how the Labor Government would move away from litigation and focus on agreement. Thirdly, and most importantly, all our policies on health, education, crime prevention, family support and community services refer to what we need to do to improve the status and role of indigenous people. I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition would raise this matter in this Parliament, because for the eight years we were in opposition and members opposite were in government, they tried to deprive the indigenous people of this State of their rights; and I say thanks to the High Court of Australia for knocking them off 7:0. In the Opposition’s second term in government, it tried to use the John Howard 10-point plan to undermine and frustrate the rights that the High Court had established for indigenous people in Australia. We are proud to say that we did have policies in the election campaign to deal with the status of our indigenous people and with native title, and with what we will do in health, education and community services to ensure that the needs and interests of indigenous people are properly represented and promoted by this Government. I am also proud to say that the Government’s new Minister for Indigenous Affairs said to me upon our election that we needed to do something significant at the opening of the Parliament - and I thank him for raising that issue - to say to the indigenous people in general, and the Nyoongah people in particular, “You are part of our community; we are proud of you; we want you to be part of our processes.” Government members: Hear, hear!
Secondly, on the issue of native title, the Labor Party released its policy in Kalgoorlie, as the new member for Kalgoorlie would know only too well, and that policy indicated how the Labor Government would move away from litigation and focus on agreement. Thirdly, and most importantly, all our policies on health, education, crime prevention, family support and community services refer to what we need to do to improve the status and role of indigenous people. I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition would raise this matter in this Parliament, because for the eight years we were in opposition and members opposite were in government, they tried to deprive the indigenous people of this State of their rights; and I say thanks to the High Court of Australia for knocking them off 7:0. In the Opposition’s second term in government, it tried to use the John Howard 10-point plan to undermine and frustrate the rights that the High Court had established for indigenous people in Australia. We are proud to say that we did have policies in the election campaign to deal with the status of our indigenous people and with native title, and with what we will do in health, education and community services to ensure that the needs and interests of indigenous people are properly represented and promoted by this Government. I am also proud to say that the Government’s new Minister for Indigenous Affairs said to me upon our election that we needed to do something significant at the opening of the Parliament - and I thank him for raising that issue - to say to the indigenous people in general, and the Nyoongah people in particular, “You are part of our community; we are proud of you; we want you to be part of our processes.” Government members: Hear, hear!
I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition would raise this matter in this Parliament, because for the eight years we were in opposition and members opposite were in government, they tried to deprive the indigenous people of this State of their rights; and I say thanks to the High Court of Australia for knocking them off 7:0. In the Opposition’s second term in government, it tried to use the John Howard 10-point plan to undermine and frustrate the rights that the High Court had established for indigenous people in Australia. We are proud to say that we did have policies in the election campaign to deal with the status of our indigenous people and with native title, and with what we will do in health, education and community services to ensure that the needs and interests of indigenous people are properly represented and promoted by this Government. I am also proud to say that the Government’s new Minister for Indigenous Affairs said to me upon our election that we needed to do something significant at the opening of the Parliament - and I thank him for raising that issue - to say to the indigenous people in general, and the Nyoongah people in particular, “You are part of our community; we are proud of you; we want you to be part of our processes.” Government members: Hear, hear!
Government members: Hear, hear!
Dr GALLOP replied: I find that question incredible. If the Leader of the Opposition were to go through the Labor Party policies one after the other, he would find reference to the needs of our indigenous people. We understand that if we are to address the needs of those people, a number of things must happen. First, we must give proper recognition to the place of indigenous people in the history and culture of our State. Indeed, we must ask: What is it to be an Australian? Part and parcel of that answer is the special place of indigenous people in our community. We supported all of the reconciliation processes, and our spokesperson on indigenous affairs, Hon Tom Stephens, made it clear that we would give more money to support the reconciliation processes. Secondly, on the issue of native title, the Labor Party released its policy in Kalgoorlie, as the new member for Kalgoorlie would know only too well, and that policy indicated how the Labor Government would move away from litigation and focus on agreement. Thirdly, and most importantly, all our policies on health, education, crime prevention, family support and community services refer to what we need to do to improve the status and role of indigenous people. I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition would raise this matter in this Parliament, because for the eight years we were in opposition and members opposite were in government, they tried to deprive the indigenous people of this State of their rights; and I say thanks to the High Court of Australia for knocking them off 7:0. In the Opposition’s second term in government, it tried to use the John Howard 10-point plan to undermine and frustrate the rights that the High Court had established for indigenous people in Australia. We are proud to say that we did have policies in the election campaign to deal with the status of our indigenous people and with native title, and with what we will do in health, education and community services to ensure that the needs and interests of indigenous people are properly represented and promoted by this Government. I am also proud to say that the Government’s new Minister for Indigenous Affairs said to me upon our election that we needed to do something significant at the opening of the Parliament - and I thank him for raising that issue - to say to the indigenous people in general, and the Nyoongah people in particular, “You are part of our community; we are proud of you; we want you to be part of our processes.” Government members: Hear, hear!
I find that question incredible. If the Leader of the Opposition were to go through the Labor Party policies one after the other, he would find reference to the needs of our indigenous people. We understand that if we are to address the needs of those people, a number of things must happen. First, we must give proper recognition to the place of indigenous people in the history and culture of our State. Indeed, we must ask: What is it to be an Australian? Part and parcel of that answer is the special place of indigenous people in our community. We supported all of the reconciliation processes, and our spokesperson on indigenous affairs, Hon Tom Stephens, made it clear that we would give more money to support the reconciliation processes. Secondly, on the issue of native title, the Labor Party released its policy in Kalgoorlie, as the new member for Kalgoorlie would know only too well, and that policy indicated how the Labor Government would move away from litigation and focus on agreement. Thirdly, and most importantly, all our policies on health, education, crime prevention, family support and community services refer to what we need to do to improve the status and role of indigenous people. I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition would raise this matter in this Parliament, because for the eight years we were in opposition and members opposite were in government, they tried to deprive the indigenous people of this State of their rights; and I say thanks to the High Court of Australia for knocking them off 7:0. In the Opposition’s second term in government, it tried to use the John Howard 10-point plan to undermine and frustrate the rights that the High Court had established for indigenous people in Australia. We are proud to say that we did have policies in the election campaign to deal with the status of our indigenous people and with native title, and with what we will do in health, education and community services to ensure that the needs and interests of indigenous people are properly represented and promoted by this Government. I am also proud to say that the Government’s new Minister for Indigenous Affairs said to me upon our election that we needed to do something significant at the opening of the Parliament - and I thank him for raising that issue - to say to the indigenous people in general, and the Nyoongah people in particular, “You are part of our community; we are proud of you; we want you to be part of our processes.” Government members: Hear, hear!
Secondly, on the issue of native title, the Labor Party released its policy in Kalgoorlie, as the new member for Kalgoorlie would know only too well, and that policy indicated how the Labor Government would move away from litigation and focus on agreement. Thirdly, and most importantly, all our policies on health, education, crime prevention, family support and community services refer to what we need to do to improve the status and role of indigenous people. I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition would raise this matter in this Parliament, because for the eight years we were in opposition and members opposite were in government, they tried to deprive the indigenous people of this State of their rights; and I say thanks to the High Court of Australia for knocking them off 7:0. In the Opposition’s second term in government, it tried to use the John Howard 10-point plan to undermine and frustrate the rights that the High Court had established for indigenous people in Australia. We are proud to say that we did have policies in the election campaign to deal with the status of our indigenous people and with native title, and with what we will do in health, education and community services to ensure that the needs and interests of indigenous people are properly represented and promoted by this Government. I am also proud to say that the Government’s new Minister for Indigenous Affairs said to me upon our election that we needed to do something significant at the opening of the Parliament - and I thank him for raising that issue - to say to the indigenous people in general, and the Nyoongah people in particular, “You are part of our community; we are proud of you; we want you to be part of our processes.” Government members: Hear, hear!
I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition would raise this matter in this Parliament, because for the eight years we were in opposition and members opposite were in government, they tried to deprive the indigenous people of this State of their rights; and I say thanks to the High Court of Australia for knocking them off 7:0. In the Opposition’s second term in government, it tried to use the John Howard 10-point plan to undermine and frustrate the rights that the High Court had established for indigenous people in Australia. We are proud to say that we did have policies in the election campaign to deal with the status of our indigenous people and with native title, and with what we will do in health, education and community services to ensure that the needs and interests of indigenous people are properly represented and promoted by this Government. I am also proud to say that the Government’s new Minister for Indigenous Affairs said to me upon our election that we needed to do something significant at the opening of the Parliament - and I thank him for raising that issue - to say to the indigenous people in general, and the Nyoongah people in particular, “You are part of our community; we are proud of you; we want you to be part of our processes.” Government members: Hear, hear!
Government members: Hear, hear!
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