‘Truth-telling must be priority’, say crossbenchers
Crossbenchers in the lower and upper houses say truth-telling must be prioritised by governments after the voice referendum’s resounding defeat.
Crossbenchers in the lower and upper houses say truth-telling must be prioritised by governments after the voice referendum’s resounding defeat, as Labor weighs up whether to maintain its full commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Victorian independent MP Zoe Daniel, whose electorate of Goldstein voted 56-44 for an Indigenous voice to parliament enshrined in the Constitution, said federal parliament should heed Indigenous Australians’ appeal to be listened to on policies to address disadvantage.
The Greens are pushing for a $250m truth and justice commission after the father of reconciliation, Patrick Dodson, last week suggested the country would need to follow a path similar to post-apartheid South Africa if the referendum were rejected, pointing to its truth and reconciliation commission.
“I agree with Senator Pat Dodson that we have reopened the scar around the sore that Indigenous Australia thought we were dealing with through the Apology, Wik and Mabo,” Ms Daniel said.
“We do need truth-telling in some form, whether it be a truth and reconciliation commission as in South Africa. We must ask Indigenous Australia whether that is what they want and in what form.”
Tasmanian Jacqui Lambie Network senator Tammy Tyrrell said a truth-telling process before treaty was a “good place to start”.
“But the federal government shouldn’t interfere with the important work … already happening across many states and territories,” she said. “Some states, like the Tasmanian government, have already started a truth-telling process … The federal government’s role is to help states work with First Nations people to achieve this.”
NSW independent MP Zali Steggall said she would respect the week of silence led by Indigenous leaders of the Yes campaign to reflect on the referendum’s outcome before seeking their views on a way forward.
“At the very least, it is time for practical listening by government to issues First Nations communities are crying out to be heard on, like the water trigger in the EPBC Act to properly assess use of water by gas fracking projects in the Beetaloo Basin,” Ms Steggall said.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said the first step towards reconciliation was a “comprehensive audit and examination of the thousands of Indigenous corporations, land councils and charities – and the programs they implement with taxpayer funding – to determine their role in why the gaps are not being closed”.
Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie did not believe it was appropriate for him to suggest the next steps on reconciliation, saying it was Indigenous Australians who should be consulted.
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