Incoming Australian Indigenous Minister Linda Burney says new Liberal leader Peter Dutton has a chance to be on the “right side of history” and support a referendum for a voice in Parliament.
Key points:
- Linda Burney will be appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians today
- She is the first First Nations woman in the federal cabinet
- He delivered this year’s Lowitja O’Donoghue prayer in Adelaide last night
Mrs Burney delivered this year’s Lowitja O’Donoghue prayer in Adelaide on Tuesday night, reaffirming the Labor government’s commitment to the Uluru Declaration from the heart.
Uluru’s statement will establish an indigenous voice in the constitution, and Makarrata, a yolngu word with a meaning similar to the treaty, referring to the process of conflict resolution, pacification and justice.
Ms Burney said there was now an opportunity for “unity and leadership”.
“There is no one for whom supporting a referendum for a voice in Parliament represents a greater political opportunity than for Peter Dutton,” he said.
He said it was an opportunity for Mr Dutton to show his “different side of what was being talked about”.
“It’s also about being on the right side of the story,” Ms. Burney said.
“Peter Dutton has been thinking in recent days about what it is like to be on the wrong side of history, after apologizing to the stolen generations.
“But we all grow, and we all change. And that’s no shame.
“In fact, that’s what the journey of reconciliation is all about.”
Peter Dutton said his background led him to give up Kevin Rudd’s apologies to the stolen generations. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Dutton was the only opposition leader in 2008 to relinquish then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apologies to the stolen generations.
During a press conference Monday, Dutton said he made a mistake when he boycotted the apology.
“In large part, it was because of my own background and experience … I worked in Townsville, I remember going to a lot of domestic violence cases, especially in Indigenous communities,” he said.
“At that time I thought we should apologize when the problems were resolved and the problems were not resolved.”
Election news:
In her speech, Ms Burney said she believed nationals and greens also have important decisions to make.
“I know Australia is ready for that and if we are all flexible and we all accept some level of commitment, together, this parliament could come together to inspire our country to something truly fantastic.”
It was the fifth anniversary of the Uluru Declaration from the Heart last week.
He told the audience that a referendum would be a definite moment that would make Australia a “fairer” place.
“Imagine how this upcoming referendum will make us feel about ourselves, our neighbors and our country, when it happens,” Ms Burney said.
“Imagine how it will be final: for your life, for your country, for the lives of First Nations people, for our children and their children afterwards.”
Dutton said earlier this week that he was “very, very happy” to talk to the government about Uluru’s statement.
“I don’t think it has gone through the caucus and the Labor Party as to what the final form will be,” he said.
“Therefore, we will look at what they propose. But as I said, I want the symbolic character – which I accept is very important to many people – to be accompanied by practical answers,” he said.
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