1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Now we know that it's implementing the ULARU Statement from 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: the heart the Labor government. The newly elected Labor government 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: says would be as higher priority for the new Labor 4 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: government as the apology to the Stolen Generations. That's according 5 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: to the party's incoming Indigenous Affairs Minister. 6 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 2: Now. 7 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: Labour's Linda Bernie, who is expected to assume that portfolio 8 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: once the full ministry is sworn in, has said that 9 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,319 Speaker 1: there was an enormous amount of work to apply the 10 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: statement and it was critical for the country that it 11 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: be carried out. Now joining me on the line right 12 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: now is the member of the ULARU Dialogue Leadership Group, 13 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: Roy RC. 14 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 3: Good morning to you, Roy. 15 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. It's great to be on your program. 16 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, great to have you on the show. 17 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 2: Roy. 18 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 3: What does the statement really aim to achieve? 19 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 2: Basically, the statement five years ago, it's the anniversary of 20 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 2: the statement and it was a gift to the Australian 21 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 2: people and basically it's unfinished business. It articulates what our 22 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 2: aspirations are from, you know, for countrymen right across the 23 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 2: whole country. You know, these we had significant dialogues that 24 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,400 Speaker 2: were held in different parts of the country. And in 25 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 2: each of the states, and through that process were very 26 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 2: very clearly articulated that our mob didn't want symbolism, They 27 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 2: wanted really, really meaningful structural reform. And they come out, 28 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,399 Speaker 2: they come back with a you know, a voice enshrined 29 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 2: in the constitution that is representative of First Nations people. 30 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: And how important is it really and what does it 31 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: mean for Indigenous people that this happens. 32 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 2: Oh, look, it's critical, Katie, It's absolutely vital. It's critical. 33 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 2: You only have to look at all the social indicators. 34 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 2: We've gone backwards. We've gone backwards, you know, the closing 35 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 2: of the gap over representation in the criminal justice system, 36 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 2: you know, our health, health diseases within our communities, the 37 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 2: basic basic human rights, you know, abridge or people. We're 38 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 2: just gone so far backwards. Now, what this will do, 39 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 2: this voice will allow us to have a say over 40 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 2: the laws and the policies that affect future generations. Then 41 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 2: surely this process couldn't be any any worse than what 42 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 2: it is now, because at the moment it's disimal for 43 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 2: our people. 44 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: And what do you make of the commitment from the 45 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: new federal government. Obviously them saying that implementing the Ulary 46 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,399 Speaker 1: statement from the heart is going to be as high 47 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: a priority for that new Labor government as the Apology 48 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: to the Stolen Generation was. 49 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 2: And Katie, that's a great question. I voted Labor because 50 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 2: of that very reason, because we were going to a referendum. Now, 51 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: a referendum basically is given the Australian people, I say, 52 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 2: in whether or not we get a voice enshrined in 53 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 2: the constitution that represents First Nations people. Now I voted 54 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 2: Labor for that, and Labor has come out through Anthony 55 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 2: albaneasi and as the Prime Minister new Prime Minister and 56 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 2: said his commitment will be to implement the statement in full. 57 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:33,959 Speaker 2: So if we look at the sequence, we go Voice Treaty, Truth, 58 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 2: end of story. Now, if you're going to put the 59 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 2: voice first, well they've committed to put the voice first. 60 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 2: So that's a referendum. Now what our people have to 61 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 2: have to understand and not averridd and Australia we're going 62 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 2: to a referendum. We're going to referendum next year. Roy. 63 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 1: I suppose for some people listening, they might be thinking 64 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: to themselves, particularly in a place like the Northern Territory 65 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: where we have got some of the most disadvantaged Indigenous people, 66 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: you know, in community and right around you know, the 67 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: Northern Territory, where housing and health and other issues that 68 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: you've touched on have such a huge part or such 69 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: a huge impact, I think you'd say on a lot 70 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: of those territorians. How is something like the Ularu statement 71 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 1: from the heart, you know, going to help when it. 72 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 3: Comes to making some change in this space. 73 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 2: Look again, another great question. I know the Northern Land 74 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 2: Council has come out and actually supported the statement in full. 75 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 2: And we get a say over, we get to say 76 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 2: over the laws and the policy decisions that affect territories 77 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 2: like the Northern Territory. Now they add the Northern Territory 78 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 2: Intervention under John Howard where they just went they used 79 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 2: the constitutional powers to just go straight into communities and 80 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 2: in there because of you know, unsubstantiated allegations of sexual abuse, 81 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 2: their sexual abuses in every corner of this country, black white, 82 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 2: a brindle. But they use that special powers under the 83 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 2: Constitution to go in and send the army into our community, 84 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 2: especially in the Northern Territory. So I think that a 85 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 2: voice would would not allow that to happen, and it 86 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 2: would be consulted in a respectful manner so that we 87 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 2: can articulate a way forward that is going to empower 88 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 2: Aboriginal people and Aboriginal communities. You know, the principles codes 89 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 2: of self determination is people having a say over policies, 90 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:50,360 Speaker 2: laws and customs that affect the future generations. That's the 91 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 2: that's the underlying principle of self determination. You tell me 92 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 2: a political party, whether it's a Green voice, a Red 93 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 2: voice or a blue voice, don't underpin you know, doesn't 94 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 2: underpind them them principles. 95 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: Now, Roy, we also know that today is National Sorry Day? 96 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: How significant is today for all Australians but particularly our 97 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: First nations? 98 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 2: People look at a very significant days, you know, for 99 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 2: for a lot of people, particularly our you know, our 100 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 2: brothers and sisters who are no longer with us that 101 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 2: missed out on you know, that reconnection with family, culture, 102 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 2: song lines and community. Now that is a you know, 103 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 2: it's a sad it's a sad reality that, you know, 104 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 2: the scourge and the impacts of trauma, trauma from intergenerational, 105 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: transgenerational trauma, being moved away from your your family, Katie, 106 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 2: just imagine that you've been snatched from your family when 107 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 2: you're five year old of the kids yourself, you know, 108 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 2: and if if there was a policy in this country 109 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 2: that allowed the welfare to come in and just take 110 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 2: your kids away, that's traumatic and you don't heal overnight. 111 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 2: This is you know, we're transgenerational trauma and healing needs 112 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 2: to happen in this country. And that's what will happened 113 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 2: in the second stage of agreement making, where we look 114 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 2: at you know, macarata systems that can help communities heal 115 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 2: and heal in a way where we start to tell 116 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 2: our stories, you know, So it's voice treaty true. 117 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 3: All right, we really appreciate your time this morning. 118 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 2: I know that. 119 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, it is such an important day and five years 120 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: you know since that ulary Statement from the Heart was 121 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 1: first gifted to the Australian people. 122 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 3: Roy, are you surprised that it's sort of taking this long. 123 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 2: Look what I said, Katie during another a few other interviews, 124 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 2: is that under Scott Morrison and the Liberal Party, that 125 00:07:55,800 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 2: statement was a gift to Australian Australian people, but they 126 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 2: turned it into a political statement and weaponized it against 127 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 2: the Australian people. You know, that's not that, that's not 128 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 2: principles before personalities, you know, And how dare them disrespect 129 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 2: that process because there's people that are no longer with 130 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 2: us now, Katie, that have that have gone passed away 131 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 2: in the last five years, and they didn't get to 132 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 2: realize or see the fruits of their their hard work 133 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 2: and their commitment to try to get a voice in 134 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 2: this country. I always said, we've got a green voice, 135 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 2: we got a red voice, we've got a blue voice. 136 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 2: How people want a black voice? 137 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 1: Well, which I think is fair enough, I really I 138 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 1: you know, I think it's it's something that's that has 139 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: been a long process and and let's hope that we 140 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: really do see some movement in this space. 141 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:49,119 Speaker 3: Roy, I appreciate your time this morning. 142 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 2: Mate, great program, Thanks Kate, thank 143 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 3: You, thanks for your time.