7 days ago
Aboriginal policy vacuum from Liberals, Labor as NAIDOC Week starts
Aboriginal flag-raising ceremonies have been held across Tasmania ahead of a week of cultural events and activities for NAIDOC Week celebrations.
The theme this year, for the event's 50th anniversary, is 'the next generation: strength, vision and legacy'.
But so far, the issues of treaty and truth-telling have not been mentioned by either of Tasmania's major political parties in the lead-up to the state election on July 19 — which has disappointed some Aboriginal organisations.
Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre's (TAC) Nala Mansell said she was disappointed by how little attention treaty and truth-telling had been given during the state election.
"For the whole time the Liberals have been in government, we've reminded them that we want a treaty here in Tasmania, and we want some of what's been stolen from us returned," she said.
In 2021, then-premier Peter Gutwein appointed former Tasmanian governor Kate Warner and law professor Tim McCormack to lead talks with the state's Aboriginal people to map out a pathway to treaty and truth-telling.
In May, while announcing funding to establish truth and healing commissioners, the state government said it would no longer progress talks for a treaty with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.
Ms Mansell said at a recent meeting with Tasmanian Aboriginal people the consensus was to reject the offer for the truth-telling commission.
"Most people agree that truth-telling is important especially in Lutruwita, Tasmania where the state has fully swept Aboriginal history and the treatment of our people under the rug.
"But everyone in the room that day agreed that we reject the Liberal government's offer of truth-telling without any type of action.
"[It] acknowledged that the truth-telling commission will give no land back to Aboriginal people. It will return nothing of what has been stolen from us."
Greens leader, Rosalie Woodruff, said both the Liberal and Labor parties need to commit to processing a treaty and land returns.
Last week, Victoria's Yoorrook Justice Commission handed down its first report after four years of work. It found Aboriginal people in Victoria have endured crimes against humanity and genocide.
"We need to be following what Victoria and other states have done, having a truth-telling and healing, and treaty process. That needs to start this year," Ms Woodruff said.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff was asked on Monday whether he thought his party had done enough towards reconciliation with Aboriginal Tasmanians.
"What's important about reconciliation and indeed truth-telling is that it needs to be Aboriginal-led," he said.
"We have embarked on a truth-telling journey and a healing journey with Tasmanian Aboriginal people particularly when it comes to the commissioners that we've announced," he said.
Premier Rockliff said the Liberals had prioritised several closing-the-gap measures.
"We've been investing and supporting social enterprise. In the north-east when it comes to abalone quota, a great social enterprise, First Nations product … we've committed to for a further 10 years," he said.
"We need to ensure that we're focused on closing-the-gap when it comes to life expectancy, educational attainment, lessening the incarceration rates and improving housing for Tasmanian Aboriginal people."
Labor Leader, Dean Winter, said the party is open to revisiting treaty with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.
"We understand that there needs to be truth-telling, we understand that there needs to be a pathway towards treaty, but you need to bring Tasmanians along on the journey towards that," he said.
"Tasmanians want to see a state that is united and together and we've got to treat our Tasmanian Aboriginal community with respect.
