Latest news with #ofAustralia
Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Warren Mundine responds to Pat Dodson's call for reconciliation and WA scheme offering Stolen Generation survivors $85k
Indigenous affairs advocate Warren Mundine has argued First Peoples of Australia already have sovereignty after former Labor senator Pat Dodson's comments. Mr Dodson spoke at a Reconciliation Week event in Western Australia on Tuesday where he raised hopes of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Aussies, describing it as "unfinished business" that must not be neglected. 'If we are to have meaningful reconciliation in this country, the nation must come to grips with our inherent collective rights as First Peoples," he said in Fremantle. "An approach to reconciliation in which the focus is only on the practical business of Closing the Gap suggests that all (that) the First Peoples are entitled to is equality in the standards of life enjoyed by other citizens and little more. 'To reframe reconciliation as solely practical risks displacing from the national conscience the historical root causes of the structural inequality. 'It reinforces a form of psychological terra nullius that has been likened to a collective amnesia about the past which becomes manifest in an ideological inability to come to grips with and accommodate the inherent sovereign rights of Indigenous people in a modern nation state. The consequences of this have been devastating for First Peoples." Mr Mundine on Sky News argued "we get treated all the same, we're all citizens". He pointed to the 1967 referendum which asked Australia to vote on the recognising of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution. More than 90 per cent supported it which saw First Peoples included in the census and gave the government power to make laws for the the Indigenous community. "In regard to the sovereignty issue, we have sovereignty already. We're citizens of this country. We enjoy all the sovereignty rights of this county," Mr Mundine said. "In fact, we've gotten benefits from the sovereignty rights of this country. And that is in regard to Native title, the High Court decision in regard to the native title saying that we had rights. And that terra nullius is now doesn't exist anymore." The prominent anti-Voice campaigner referred to a recent High Court decision on property rights for Aboriginals, First Nations programs, heritage legislation and mining and energy industries giving royalties to Aboriginals as examples of sovereignty. Sky News host Danica Di Giorgio then asked about a Western Australian government redress scheme where Stolen Generation survivors will be each given $85,000. Those in the community who were forcibly removed from their families in the state before 1972 will be eligible to receive the taxpayer-funded payout. WA Attorney General Tony Buti estimated between 2,500 to 3,000 people in the state are eligible, meaning the cost of the scheme could reach $250 million. Mr Mundine stressed "there has to be burden of proof". Mr Dodson this week also urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to forge ahead with a national truth telling commission, also known as Makarrata, and a treaty process, which are the two other requests in the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart. "They can do that because it doesn't require constitutional referendum, it can be done by way of legislation," he said on ABC's 7.30 this week. If it went ahead it could be met with mixed feelings given the Voice, also one of the requests, was voted against in almost all jurisdictions in a 2023 referendum. Mr Dodson - also known as "the father of reconciliation" due to his advocacy work - retired from federal politics in 2024 due to treatment on cancer.
Herald Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Eddie McGuire's ultra-rare home swap with ex-Allied Chemicals boss Ian Hicks revealed as Toorak home listed for sale
A Toorak house at the centre of an ultra-rare house swap between former Collingwood Football Club president Eddie McGuire and a wealthy businessman has been listed for sale. Records show the 4 Dunraven Ave home previously owned by the Melbourne businessman and AFL identity Mr McGuire, is now being sold by Ian Hicks — the former head of Applied Chemicals and Applied International. The ritzy address in the heart of Toorak's marketing material even reveals it comes with its own moat for a 'floating restaurant' ambience. RELATED: Inside $18m Toorak mansion with infinity pool, wine cellar, rooftop kitchen, bar Inside Chrissie Swan's $2.86m dual-residence Hawthorn East home with retro design flair Arrotex pharma boss billionaire Dennis Bastas firming as buyer of $100m+ Coonac in Toorak Mr Hicks is also a long-time philanthropist, having been recognised as an Officer of the order of Australia in 2021 for his support of the National Gallery of Victoria, time spent as president of MS Australia and financial support for the Australian Ballet. But in a bizarre twist, additional documents have revealed Mr Hicks sold his former home in the suburb to Mr McGuire's wife Carla for $11.75m in 2008. A few months later, Mr Hicks wound up buying the then chief executive of Channel 9's former home for $4.05m. While such exchanges are not unheard of in the city's most illustrious postcode, industry sources have indicated that they can arise due to the difficulty many wealthy homeowners face in finding a new home to relocate to. Forbes Global Properties' Mike Gibson is handling the latest listing of 4 Dunraven Ave, which now has a $7.8m-$8.5m asking price, but would not discuss the home's ownership — past or present. However, Mr Gibson said the property designed by celebrated architect Wayne Gillespie was among a very limited selection of homes available for sale in the well-heeled neighbourhood at present — with the suburb's property market getting close to taking a winter break. The agent added that despite limited new listings expected between now and August, there were significant numbers of buyers actively looking in Toorak — and the Dunraven address could appeal to a number of them. 'Generally, the houses that people want are turn key — and in the case of Dunraven, it's lock-up-and-leave,' Mr Gibson said. The striking three-bedroom, three-bathroom house comes with an impressive indoor-outdoor entertainment space where the rear living room extends to a glass-ceiling conservatory with stacking glass doors that open out to a wrap around water feature being described as a freshwater moat. The agent said while conservatory's were uncommon in the suburb, to have one open up to the outside in such a way was exceptionally rare. Extensive marble features in the Miele kitchen, while travertine stone floors stretch from the culinary heart of the home through most of the ground floor, out to the conservatory and to a second outdoor entertainment area that features a pool and spa, flanked by a wall studded with candle alcoves. A gym and bathroom complete the ground level. The bedrooms are upstairs, including a main with its own balcony behind French doors, built-in wardrobes, a marble ensuite and black out curtains. Two more bedrooms include one with an ensuite. 'And it's in a cracking spot, close to the Toorak Village,' Mr Gibson added. Expressions of interest for 4 Dunraven Ave close at 5pm on June 3. Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox. MORE: PropTrack: See what homes in every Melbourne suburb will be worth in 2030 Victoria faces $5.4bn choice between level crossing removals and almost 20,000 social homes Italian house price record soars to $284m AUD, 164m Euro, as Aussies eye vineyards, estates
