Page 2684 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 21 September 2022
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This is a significant moment for us as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the ACT. My children were the first in my family to complete their year 12 certificates in New South Wales and the ACT. This is quite profound for me as they have opportunities now that were not historically destined for us. Their ability to achieve this, I believe, is largely due to the tireless advocacy and work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our community. To be able to celebrate and acknowledge the people who have made sure that the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are recognised and enabled us to live the lives we do is a moment of great importance. There are countless people who deserve to be honoured for their work, and this amendment will mean that they can finally get the recognition they deserve.”
The amendments in this bill alone will not bring about reconciliation, but they will highlight and celebrate those who have effected and are continuing to effect positive change in our community. In doing so, greater attention will be drawn to celebrating the positive steps being taken by numerous individuals, to hold them up as leaders in our community, to serve to shine a spotlight on them, and be an important reminder for all of us of the ongoing need for each of us to implement reconciliation practices in all of our work.
The amendments proposed in this bill align with contemporary community understandings and expectations. It is time that we replaced recognition of persons famous in Australian colonisation with persons famous for Australia’s process towards reconciliation.
Again I would like to thank my colleagues in this place for tripartisan support on this bill. That is also a testament to how important reconciliation is to the ACT community. I look forward to seeing the outcomes of these amendments and seeing more public places in the ACT named in recognition of these important people. It always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
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MR PARTON (Brindabella) (4.30): I move:
That this Assembly:
(1) notes:
(a) this Government has a dedicated policy which claims to save the environment via such measures as banning plastic bags;
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