Premier needs to show Labor is serious about reconciliation

The Tasmanian Greens today called on Premier Lara Giddings to reconsider her position that the only legislation to be debated in Parliament next week will be the pulp mill doubts’ removal Bill.

Greens Aboriginal Affairs spokesperson, Cassy O’Connor MP, said there are sixteen Bills on the table that have been passed by the House of Assembly, among them the Aboriginal Lands Amendment Bill 2012.

“Rather than having MLCs sitting upstairs twiddling their thumbs at taxpayers’ expense while the Lower House debates the divisive pulp mill bill, the Premier should prioritise – through the Leader of Government Business in the Upper House – the return of lands to Tasmania’s first people.”

“The Bill to return larapuna and Rebecca Creek to their original owners passed through the Lower House in June 2012, more than a year and a half ago. It’s a very straightforward piece of legislation which has been through an extensive Legislative Council committee and consultation process.”

“We’re talking about a Bill to return less than 160 hectares of land of spiritual significance to the palawa community and it’s important to remember that the last time Parliament returned any lands was in 2005.”

“As a community and as a Parliament, we can do better to right the terrible wrongs of Tasmania’s past.”

“If Labor is serious about reconciliation with Tasmania’s first people, it will bring the land returns bill on for debate in the Legislative Council next week.”

“The passage of this Bill and return of these small parcels of land is long overdue. We could soothe a little of the pain Aboriginal people will feel about the loss of their country on 26 January, by giving back another portion of what was taken away at the point of a musket more than 200 years ago,” Ms O’Connor said.

Download: Aboriginal Lands Amendment Bill 2012,

Jan25_Land_Returns_Bill_2012_C_OConnor_ATTACH.pdf
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Aboriginal Affairs spokesperson