Long walk to treaty resumes in a fractured federation
The Albanese government has backed away from a promise to strike a treaty with indigenous Australians. In a federal policy vacuum, some states are picking up the baton.
In the distinctive opening lyric to the Yothu Yindi hit Treaty, singer Mandawuy Yunupingu talks of hearing former prime minister Bob Hawke “on the radio”, making an empty promise about a treaty with Aboriginals.
But if Yunupingu, who died a decade ago, had been listening to Melbourne Indigenous radio station 3KND last year, he would have heard a different conversation about treaty.
Peter KerResources reporterPeter Ker covers resource companies for The Australian Financial Review, based in Melbourne. Connect with Peter on Twitter. Email Peter at pker@afr.com
Tom McIlroyCanberra Bureau ChiefTom McIlroy is the Financial Review’s Canberra bureau chief based in the press gallery at Parliament House. He was previously the AFR’s political correspondent. Connect with Tom on Twitter. Email Tom at thomas.mcilroy@afr.com
