AUSTRALIA has moved one step closer to recognising its first people in the country’s founding document after one of the Federal Parliament’s rare and uplifting moments of unity between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott.
Both leaders committed themselves to tackle what the Prime Minister called ”the unhealed wound that even now lies open at the heart of our national story” and the Opposition Leader dubbed ”this stain on our soul”.
The passage through the House of Representatives of an Act of Recognition was met by applause from the public galleries and from indigenous leaders including Patrick Dodson and Lowitja O’Donoghue, who had been invited to witness the moment from the floor of the House.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard shakes hands with Djawa Burarrwanga.
The legislation recognises the ”unique and special place” of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders and is designed to give momentum for constitutional recognition after the September election. It passed the lower house on the fifth anniversary of the apology by former prime minister Kevin Rudd to the stolen generations.
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The legislation has a two-year sunset clause, in the expectation that momentum towards a successful referendum campaign will have built in that time.
As part of the campaign, football legend Michael Long, whose Long Walk from Melbourne to Canberra highlighted the plight of indigenous Australians in 2004, will lead a ”Journey to Recognition” before the Dreamtime at the ‘G game between AFL clubs Essendon and Richmond on May 26.
”We must never feel guilt for the things already done in this nation’s history, but we can – and must – feel responsibility for the things that remain undone,” Ms Gillard told Parliament. ”No gesture speaks more deeply to the healing of our nation’s fabric than amending our nation’s founding charter.”
Speaking from hand-written notes, Mr Abbott replied: ”As the Prime Minister said, we should not feel guilty about our past but we should be determined to rise above that which now makes us embarrassed. We have that chance. Let us grasp it.”
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/leaders-unite-on-need-to-recognise-first-people-20130213-2edhp.html#ixzz2KoKSeZPN
