The Sydney Morning Herald
On track to finish business
Date: 04/05/2000
AS THE Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation prepares to launch its
final proposals for reconciliation documents at Corroboree 2000 on
May 27, I urge all supporters of reconciliation to focus on the goal
rather than the ball or the players.
I have always had the greatest respect and admiration for Patrick
Dodson. He has rightly been called "the father of reconciliation" in
this
country. For six years as council chairman he was the face of
reconciliation and the inspiration for a people's movement whose
momentum is now unstoppable. In these difficult times, the
reconciliation process now more than ever needs him.
It therefore saddens me that I have to clarify the council's position in
the face of Dodson's reported comments in yesterday's Herald.
Contrary to his comments that we are ending a 10-year process with a
"quarto size piece of paper", the council is entering the final
straight of the formal reconciliation process with:
Reconciliation now squarely on the national agenda.
An enormous popular movement which will continue the process well
beyond the council's life.
More commitments to reconciliation from organisations, businesses and
governments than ever before.
Proposed documents which both express our aspirations for
reconciliation and outline strategies to make reconciliation a reality
for all
Australians.
As reported in yesterday's Herald, Dodson was referring to the council's
Australian Declaration Towards Reconciliation, one of two
linked documents which will be publicly released later this month. The
declaration, which incidentally has been deliberately kept short for
impact, reflects the aspirational and symbolic part of reconciliation,
which Dodson has expressed so well over the years.
The second document, A Roadmap for Reconciliation, sets out concise
versions of four strategies and proposed actions to improve the
lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, which is
essential for making reconciliation a reality. These documents have
been determined by the council only after one of the most extensive
consultation processes ever undertaken in this country on a matter
of public policy. Dodson has been one of those we have consulted, and
the council's final proposals take on board many of his
suggestions. In fact, most of the matters raised in his comments of
yesterday are covered in our proposals.
For example, later this month the council will launch a discussion paper
on legislative mechanisms to make progress on the unfinished
business of reconciliation. In particular, we would like an Act of
Parliament to enable negotiation of framework agreements on issues
such as a national apology, land matters, protection of cultural
heritage and sacred sites, and the place of traditional law. We want to
hear
the views of indigenous people and the wider community about how we can
ensure these difficult issues receive the attention they need
and deserve beyond the life of the council.
Dodson calls for the council to hold "serious discussions" with the
Government and seek "real change" for indigenous Australians. This is
exactly what the council has been doing in its final term, and it has
consulted indigenous leaders, organisations and communities, State
and Territory governments, peak bodies and community organisations.
Dodson's and some other indigenous leaders' reported decision not to
attend Corroboree 2000 are disappointing, as we want the event to
reflect the diversity of people's views about reconciliation and how
best to achieve it. Only last week we stated that reconciliation is
based on truth, and the reality is that different sections of the
community genuinely hold different views about the priorities for
reconciliation. That is why the council will be seeking a range of views
to be openly expressed at Corroboree 2000.
Dodson clearly supports the idea of getting a constructive outcome for
reconciliation this year, and I believe we will do just that at
Corroboree 2000. The deputy chair, Sir Gus Nossal, and I will seek to
meet with him as soon as possible to urge him to reconsider his
attendance. In the meantime, I encourage all supporters of
reconciliation to join the many thousands of people across NSW, and
indeed
Australia, who will take part in the People's Walk for Reconciliation
across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on May 28.
If you want reconciliation to happen, be there.
Evelyn Scott is chair of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.
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Truth is a pathless land. --- Krishnamurti
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