It was a moment in a regional Victorian classroom that caused something in Jana Stewart.
Key points:
- A record number of Aboriginal and island representatives from the Torres Strait have been elected to parliament
- This includes six new indigenous representatives and most are women
- Two senators hope that representatives of different parties can work together on key issues
As she listened to her teacher read bleak statistics about her people’s life expectancy gap, the young Indigenous student began to think differently about her future and the misconceptions she would face throughout her life. life.
“I was the only black child sitting in this classroom and basically the message I heard was,‘ I’m not going to have a house, I’m not going to college, I’m going to die between the ages of 15 and 20. years before my classmates and I will probably have children at a young age, ”he said.
“I realized there were these negative things about being an Aboriginal person, in terms of what my career path would be like in life.”
For the woman Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba, who had experienced hardships and poverty, it was a crucial moment.
“I made a very deliberate decision in my mind then that this is not who I will be. These statistics do not define who I am,” he said.
Now, she is preparing to become the youngest Aboriginal woman to serve in the federal parliament.
Mrs Stewart made history in April when she was elected the first Victorian Aboriginal senator from the Labor Party, replacing the late Kimberly Kitching.
While a lot of attention has been paid to the “blue green wave” of independents, this new “black wave” of women will have some different priorities, Stewart said.
Ms Stewart said it would include a focus on the devastating rates of domestic violence against Aboriginal women and the growing number of indigenous children fostered outside the home.
“We have a national crisis on our hands,” he said.
“If you have strong children and families, you have a strong society and economy.”
As a survivor of domestic violence and the eldest of six children, the 34-year-old said her parents had struggled with addiction, which led her to work as a family therapist before entering the family. politics.
“I’m not necessarily sad about these things, I think it’s shaped who I am,” he said.
“When I was about 10 or 11 years old, I remember my mother telling me, ‘As an adult, it’s your responsibility to let all the sticks and stones hit you to make your way to your brothers and sisters.’
Ms. Stewart will join a record number of Aboriginal and island elected officials in Torres Strait, most of whom are women.
‘Infiltrate’ and ‘Join’
In the recent federal election, Australians voted for six new Indigenous representatives, including Northern Territory member Lingiari, Labor MP Marion Scrymgour, Robertson Labor MP Dr Gordon Reid and, in the Senate, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price Liberal of the Northern Territory.
Labor Senators Pat Dodson (Western Australia) and Malarndirri McCarthy (Northern Territory) will return to the House with Linda Burney (New South Wales), who will replace Liberal Ken Wyatt as Minister of Indigenous Affairs.
Tasmanian Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie and Green Senators Dorinda Cox (Western Australia) and Lidia Thorpe (Victoria) will also hold seats in the Senate.
Lydia Thorpe hopes to take advantage of the “black wave” momentum to work together. (Provided by: The Victorian Greens)
Senator Thorpe, who has been a strong advocate for women, said she would like to continue a past investigation she presented to the Senate on missing and murdered indigenous women and children.
However, with a wide range of political agendas now in the House, it seems that a steady push for a referendum on an indigenous voice in Parliament may overshadow his plans.
“The priority is the survival of our people,” he said.
“Constitutional recognition right now will not save the lives of our people … the full implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations on Aboriginal deaths in custody will save lives.”
Senator Thorpe said that while other Indigenous MPs may not agree with her at all, she hoped to take advantage of the “black wave” momentum to work together.
“The ‘black wave’ or ‘black out’ that is about to happen in this country … this is something to celebrate, no matter what team we are on,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we are black guys and we have increased our numbers in this place that makes laws for our country and our people.
“We are so oppressed and the boot is on our shoulders every day, so we have to infiltrate the parliament and the laws of this country in the way we know how and that is to unite and unite.”
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Posted 1 hour, 1 hour ago Monday, May 30, 2022 at 6:58 PM, updated 1 hour, May 30, 2022 at 6:59 PM