CELEBRATING A QUARTER CENTURY OF LAND RIGHTS

Twenty five years ago the then Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Frank Walker, stood at the dispatch box in the Legislative Assembly and introduced the first ever land rights legislation in New South Wales on behalf of the Wran Labor Government.

Mr. Walker described the reformist legislation as “the first step in this state towards redressing the injustice and neglect of real Aboriginal needs since Captain Philip stepped upon the shores of Port Jackson in 1788.”

“The Government,” Mr. Walker continued, “has made a clear and unequivocal decision that land rights for Aborigines is the most fundamental initiative to be taken for the regeneration of Aboriginal culture and dignity.”

The Act was proclaimed on June 10, 1983.

On Tuesday, June 10, 2008 the nine members of the Governing Council of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council filed into the same Legislative Assembly chamber to commemorate and celebrate the 25th anniversary of that proclamation.

The special sitting of the Council, the State’s peak representative Aboriginal body, was arranged through the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Richard Torbay and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Paul Lynch.

The Council meeting, the first ever held by NSWALC in the State Parliament, was reminiscent of the two Black Parliaments held in the Assembly in the late nineties.

It was attended by a number of distinguished guests from the land rights network around the state and a host of current and former parliamentarians.

They included the current Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Lynch, former Minister and Treasurer, Doctor Andrew Refshauge, the current Shadow Minister, Mr. Greg Aplin and his immediate predecessor, Mr. Brad Hazzard, the member for Wakehurst..

The Chairperson of NSWALC, Ms Bev Manton, acknowledged their presence and the ongoing commitment of all parties in the NSW Parliament to the fundamental rights and principles enshrined in the legislation.

Ms Manton also paid tribute to Mr. Walker, who was unable to attend due to a bout of poor health, and the sprightly 84-year old “father” of land rights, Mr. Maurice Keane, who was in attendance.

The Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery, hosted the meeting during the absence of Minister Lynch in a Cabinet meeting.

The meeting was subject of a special radio broadcast through the National Indigenous Radio Service and was filmed for a silver anniversary DVD which is expected to be produced later this year. The 25th anniversary celebrations also generated front page coverage in the National Indigenous Times and the Koori Mail.

Each of the NSWALC Councillors in attendance delivered a short speech which set out the Council’s political and administrative agenda.

Copies of the speeches can be accessed below.

Speeches

Speech for Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, 22 April 2008

Cr Bev Manton, Silver Anniversary Speech, Parliament House

Cr Tom Briggs, Silver Anniversary Speech, Parliament House

Cr Steve Gordon, Silver Anniversary Speech, Parliament House

Cr Patricia Laurie, Silver Anniversary Speech, Parliament House

Cr William Murray, Silver Anniversary Speech, Parliament House

Cr Craig Cromelin, Silver Anniversary Speech, Parliament House

Cr Jack Hampton, Silver Anniversary Speech, Parliament House

Cr Roy Ah-See, Silver Anniversary Speech, Parliament House

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