Australia due for 'massive reckoning' with its history

The Advertiser

4 days ago

Australia needs a "massive reckoning" with the injustices of its own colonial past, human rights advocates say.
Speaking at the Garma Festival at Gulkula in northeast Arnhem Land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said people must be mindful about political leaders favouring "practical measures" over truth-telling.
"What people don't understand is that it's the practical measures that got us to the situation that we're currently in," she said.
"We've got to be really mindful about that fact when we hear this narrative about truth-telling is symbolism."
The importance of truth-telling was also highlighted by Human Rights Commission president Hugh De Kretser.
"In mainstream Australia there is a need for a massive reckoning around the injustice," he said.
"That's why truth-telling is so important."
Ms Kiss pointed to youth justice legislation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, saying those jurisdictions have been wilfully opposing their human rights obligations.
"If we do not exercise our rights, they are not held accountable to them," she said.
"If we do not challenge governments on the fact they have obligations to our rights, they will continue to violate them."
Her comments come after Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves called out the Northern Territory government and the NT Police at the Garma Festival.
Mr Hargraves said his community of Yuendumu had lost trust in the police after the deaths of his grandson Kumanjayi White in May, and Kumanjayi Walker in 2019.
Kumanjayi Walker was 19 when he was shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe at close range at a home in Yuendumu.
A coronial inquest found Mr Walker's death was preventable, and coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she could not rule out that racism may have played a part in the teenager's death.
The Northern Territory government is yet to commit to any of the coroner's recommendations, handed down in Yuendumu in July.
In May, the community was left reeling after the death of Kumanjayi White at a supermarket in Alice Springs.
The 24-year-old, who had a disability, died after being forcibly restrained by two plain-clothes officers.
"Kumanjayi Walker was murdered in broad daylight," Mr Hargraves said.
"In the same way my jaja, my grandson, was done, he was killed by the law.
"The police has done enough. Enough is enough. We have to put a stop to it somewhere."
Reading from a letter he penned to the prime minister, Mr Hargraves said Anthony Albanese had the power to turn around the outcomes for his community.
"This genocide must stop," he said.
"We are asking you, the prime minister, to do something about it."
Mr Albanese visited Garma for a few hours on Saturday, making a speech and meeting with senior Yolngu leaders.
He announced an economic partnership with Indigenous organisations, which he said would allow Traditional Owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land, with millions promised for First Nations clean energy projects and for native title reform.
During his speech Mr Albanese also acknowledged the work of Victoria's truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which Mr De Kretser said was good to see, and could "open the door a little" to truth-telling on a national level.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
Australia needs a "massive reckoning" with the injustices of its own colonial past, human rights advocates say.
Speaking at the Garma Festival at Gulkula in northeast Arnhem Land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said people must be mindful about political leaders favouring "practical measures" over truth-telling.
"What people don't understand is that it's the practical measures that got us to the situation that we're currently in," she said.
"We've got to be really mindful about that fact when we hear this narrative about truth-telling is symbolism."
The importance of truth-telling was also highlighted by Human Rights Commission president Hugh De Kretser.
"In mainstream Australia there is a need for a massive reckoning around the injustice," he said.
"That's why truth-telling is so important."
Ms Kiss pointed to youth justice legislation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, saying those jurisdictions have been wilfully opposing their human rights obligations.
"If we do not exercise our rights, they are not held accountable to them," she said.
"If we do not challenge governments on the fact they have obligations to our rights, they will continue to violate them."
Her comments come after Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves called out the Northern Territory government and the NT Police at the Garma Festival.
Mr Hargraves said his community of Yuendumu had lost trust in the police after the deaths of his grandson Kumanjayi White in May, and Kumanjayi Walker in 2019.
Kumanjayi Walker was 19 when he was shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe at close range at a home in Yuendumu.
A coronial inquest found Mr Walker's death was preventable, and coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she could not rule out that racism may have played a part in the teenager's death.
The Northern Territory government is yet to commit to any of the coroner's recommendations, handed down in Yuendumu in July.
In May, the community was left reeling after the death of Kumanjayi White at a supermarket in Alice Springs.
The 24-year-old, who had a disability, died after being forcibly restrained by two plain-clothes officers.
"Kumanjayi Walker was murdered in broad daylight," Mr Hargraves said.
"In the same way my jaja, my grandson, was done, he was killed by the law.
"The police has done enough. Enough is enough. We have to put a stop to it somewhere."
Reading from a letter he penned to the prime minister, Mr Hargraves said Anthony Albanese had the power to turn around the outcomes for his community.
"This genocide must stop," he said.
"We are asking you, the prime minister, to do something about it."
Mr Albanese visited Garma for a few hours on Saturday, making a speech and meeting with senior Yolngu leaders.
He announced an economic partnership with Indigenous organisations, which he said would allow Traditional Owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land, with millions promised for First Nations clean energy projects and for native title reform.
During his speech Mr Albanese also acknowledged the work of Victoria's truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which Mr De Kretser said was good to see, and could "open the door a little" to truth-telling on a national level.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
Australia needs a "massive reckoning" with the injustices of its own colonial past, human rights advocates say.
Speaking at the Garma Festival at Gulkula in northeast Arnhem Land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said people must be mindful about political leaders favouring "practical measures" over truth-telling.
"What people don't understand is that it's the practical measures that got us to the situation that we're currently in," she said.
"We've got to be really mindful about that fact when we hear this narrative about truth-telling is symbolism."
The importance of truth-telling was also highlighted by Human Rights Commission president Hugh De Kretser.
"In mainstream Australia there is a need for a massive reckoning around the injustice," he said.
"That's why truth-telling is so important."
Ms Kiss pointed to youth justice legislation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, saying those jurisdictions have been wilfully opposing their human rights obligations.
"If we do not exercise our rights, they are not held accountable to them," she said.
"If we do not challenge governments on the fact they have obligations to our rights, they will continue to violate them."
Her comments come after Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves called out the Northern Territory government and the NT Police at the Garma Festival.
Mr Hargraves said his community of Yuendumu had lost trust in the police after the deaths of his grandson Kumanjayi White in May, and Kumanjayi Walker in 2019.
Kumanjayi Walker was 19 when he was shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe at close range at a home in Yuendumu.
A coronial inquest found Mr Walker's death was preventable, and coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she could not rule out that racism may have played a part in the teenager's death.
The Northern Territory government is yet to commit to any of the coroner's recommendations, handed down in Yuendumu in July.
In May, the community was left reeling after the death of Kumanjayi White at a supermarket in Alice Springs.
The 24-year-old, who had a disability, died after being forcibly restrained by two plain-clothes officers.
"Kumanjayi Walker was murdered in broad daylight," Mr Hargraves said.
"In the same way my jaja, my grandson, was done, he was killed by the law.
"The police has done enough. Enough is enough. We have to put a stop to it somewhere."
Reading from a letter he penned to the prime minister, Mr Hargraves said Anthony Albanese had the power to turn around the outcomes for his community.
"This genocide must stop," he said.
"We are asking you, the prime minister, to do something about it."
Mr Albanese visited Garma for a few hours on Saturday, making a speech and meeting with senior Yolngu leaders.
He announced an economic partnership with Indigenous organisations, which he said would allow Traditional Owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land, with millions promised for First Nations clean energy projects and for native title reform.
During his speech Mr Albanese also acknowledged the work of Victoria's truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which Mr De Kretser said was good to see, and could "open the door a little" to truth-telling on a national level.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
Australia needs a "massive reckoning" with the injustices of its own colonial past, human rights advocates say.
Speaking at the Garma Festival at Gulkula in northeast Arnhem Land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said people must be mindful about political leaders favouring "practical measures" over truth-telling.
"What people don't understand is that it's the practical measures that got us to the situation that we're currently in," she said.
"We've got to be really mindful about that fact when we hear this narrative about truth-telling is symbolism."
The importance of truth-telling was also highlighted by Human Rights Commission president Hugh De Kretser.
"In mainstream Australia there is a need for a massive reckoning around the injustice," he said.
"That's why truth-telling is so important."
Ms Kiss pointed to youth justice legislation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, saying those jurisdictions have been wilfully opposing their human rights obligations.
"If we do not exercise our rights, they are not held accountable to them," she said.
"If we do not challenge governments on the fact they have obligations to our rights, they will continue to violate them."
Her comments come after Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves called out the Northern Territory government and the NT Police at the Garma Festival.
Mr Hargraves said his community of Yuendumu had lost trust in the police after the deaths of his grandson Kumanjayi White in May, and Kumanjayi Walker in 2019.
Kumanjayi Walker was 19 when he was shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe at close range at a home in Yuendumu.
A coronial inquest found Mr Walker's death was preventable, and coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she could not rule out that racism may have played a part in the teenager's death.
The Northern Territory government is yet to commit to any of the coroner's recommendations, handed down in Yuendumu in July.
In May, the community was left reeling after the death of Kumanjayi White at a supermarket in Alice Springs.
The 24-year-old, who had a disability, died after being forcibly restrained by two plain-clothes officers.
"Kumanjayi Walker was murdered in broad daylight," Mr Hargraves said.
"In the same way my jaja, my grandson, was done, he was killed by the law.
"The police has done enough. Enough is enough. We have to put a stop to it somewhere."
Reading from a letter he penned to the prime minister, Mr Hargraves said Anthony Albanese had the power to turn around the outcomes for his community.
"This genocide must stop," he said.
"We are asking you, the prime minister, to do something about it."
Mr Albanese visited Garma for a few hours on Saturday, making a speech and meeting with senior Yolngu leaders.
He announced an economic partnership with Indigenous organisations, which he said would allow Traditional Owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land, with millions promised for First Nations clean energy projects and for native title reform.
During his speech Mr Albanese also acknowledged the work of Victoria's truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which Mr De Kretser said was good to see, and could "open the door a little" to truth-telling on a national level.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14