Bipartisan support for Scullion’s pre-Cook history lessons

Both Coalition and Labor MPs have embraced a plan to teach pre-Cook history in primary schools

Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion. Picture: Kym Smith

A plan by the Turnbull government to enhance the teaching of pre-settlement indigenous history in primary schools across the country — including native language and customs — has received early signs of approval from both Coalition and Labor MPs.

Labor education spokes­woman Tanya Plibersek saidshe thought primary school children would enjoy learning about the culture and language of indigenous clans before the arrival of the British. “I think it’s important that all children are taught about the 65,000-year connection to this land of Australia’s first peoples,” she said. “It’s a history of which all Australians should be proud and I imagine most children would be thrilled to learn more about the ­indigenous history of their local area and our nation.”

Linda Burney, the first indigenous woman to be elected to the House of Representatives and the opposition’s human services spokeswoman, gave Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion’s proposal a warm reception. “As a former educator, and as someone involved in the reconciliation movement for 20 years, schools and the curriculum are crucial ­vehicles for the teaching of Aboriginal studies, heritage and language,” she told The Australian.

The indications of bipartisan support follow a bruising political row over the role of historical monuments after Bill Shorten raised, and then backed away from, the prospect of adding an ­indigenous plaque to the statue of Captain James Cook in Sydney’s Hyde Park.

Senator Scullion argues there would be no need for additional plaques on statues or the “retrofitting” of monuments if students had a better understanding of pre-settlement indigenous history.

As revealed by The Australian, the Northern Territory senator has commissioned the University of Melbourne to develop new teaching materials under the leadership of prominent indigenous academic Marcia Langton. Senator Scullion hopes to present a draft version of the proposed changes to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority as early as March and consult with state and territory education ministers by the end of the year.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham said Senator Scullion’s changes were aimed at providing teachers with better resources to instruct children and enhancing rather than overhauling the ­national curriculum.

“I think one of the challenges for particularly teachers is how do you effectively teach indigenous culture and history?” he said.

“The work Nigel and I have spoken of, and that is being commissioned, is about providing resources and tools where teachers can pick something up and say, ‘This is a best practice way to ensure school students develop a clear understanding of indigenous culture ... the 40,000 years of Australian history that predates European settlement is effectively communicated in the classroom.”

Coalition MPs were also enthusiastic about Senator Scullion’s plan, with Queenslander Andrew Laming telling The Australian it was an important initiative. “The importance of what Senator Scullion is doing is that it would be a systematic approach — that every Australian would be given that ­opportunity,” he said.

North Queensland MP Warren Entsch was also enthusiastic: “If they are going to talk about Jimmy Cook and his exploits, I think it’s just as important to talk about the history prior to that.”