-----Original Message----- From: Webcentral <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Tuesday, August 22, 2000 12:09 PM Subject: [atsic] Media Release: Townsville Reconciliation March Statement - by ATSIC Regional Council Chairman Mr Eddie Smallwood > >Townsville Reconciliation March Statement - by ATSIC Regional Council >Chairman Mr Eddie Smallwood > >Reconciliation in Townsville is stronger today - is a step closer today - as >a result of this Sunday's historic March. Together, we have made a bit of >history. > >The march was Townsville's turn to show how it feels about Reconciliation >.For people in this community to show they want a change to the attitudes of >the past. They have stood up for change in this country. For change in >their community. For our children. For a better future. For their >community. They have stood up for us. > >Everyone who marched is "kindling up" that light on the hill. That light >that all countries - all communities need - to light up the way ahead. A >light that communities - even whole countries - can sometimes lose sight >of. Or be blind to. > >They are helping our country, our leaders, and our governments to find the >way. The way, that brings all Australians- black and white- together like >we never have before in this country. > >Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are greatly encouraged by this >ever growing support. It means a lot to know we are not alone in our >struggle. > >I especially want to acknowledge the many years of work by Reconciliation >groups, the ANTAR people, by everyone who has put together the Sea of Hands, >who have signed the Sorry books. And all those who have helped organise the >march, and the cultural festival here in Townsville this week. > >This march follows closely on from another important step towards >Reconciliation. Last week's historic apology and support for Reconciliation >by the Queensland Magistrates Court. > >I congratulate the Chief Stipendiary Magistrate , Diane Fingleton, and >those magistrates in Townsville and around Queensland for their stand. They >deserve our support. They deserve to hear us voice that support. > >Because what we have seen is one of the most powerful institutions of the >state finally recognise the truth of the past. > >Make no mistake, this is an important step forward towards reconciliation in >Queensland. It was courageous. And has been welcomed by the vast majority >of our people in Queensland - in the same spirit that it was given. > >But it has also had its critics too. Including the Chief Justice in >Queensland, Paul de Jersey, among others. > >I want to respond briefly to some of those criticisms. > >If reconciliation and the apologies made by parliaments are to become >anything more than nice words -then these declarations and apologies by >the Queensland parliament, and the Queensland government's "support " for >reconciliation have to result in cultural change - major cultural change - >in the institutions of this state. > >The Magistrates Court is one of the first to begin to do that. I am calling >today for the other State institutions and departments to now follow this >lead. > >Let's be clear about this. The Queensland Parliament has apologised. The >Queensland government is committed to Reconciliation. > >It is logical that the next step must be for the institutions and arms of >the state to do the same. Including , sooner or later, the Chief Justice and >the Supreme Court. > >I want to remind you of some of the Chief Justice's own words , which he >used to argue against the apology by the lower courts. He said " it is the >obligation of the courts and the judicial officers to render justice >according to law, to all people, in the inclusive sense." > >As far as most Aboriginal people are concerned that has never happened any >way. But maybe now, as a result of the Magistrates' apology - it just might >be possible that things might start to become a little different. > >I would also point out that what the Queensland Magistrates Court has done, >is fundamentally no different from what some magistrates in the Northern >Territory have done. When they spoke out from their benches - against >Mandatory Sentencing . > >Is this not what we expect of our courts ? Aren't they supposed to be >"independent" of the government of the day? > >But let's get this in perspective .Quite simply, all the Magistrates Court >has done is say "sorry". And that they support Reconciliation. No more , no >less than what the parliament in Queensland has done - or what the >government of Queensland is doing by "supporting" reconciliation. > >But at the end of the day, what the Magistrates Court has done is still >largely a symbolic exercise. > >But important, nevertheless. Because it means there is now some recognition >of the need for a change of culture. A change of attitudes. Because it >sends a signal of the possibility of a new start. > >To use Chief Justice de Jersey's own words, it offers a sense of >"inclusion" to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Instead of the >"exclusion" and marginalisation that has so long been our experience. > >A sense of "inclusion" that offers hope of better relations between the >Magistrates Courts, and our community leaders and perhaps even our community >members. > >Surely this is what Reconciliation is at least partly about, isn't it? The >start of a new start. The magistrates Court has made that start. The >cultural change, the attidunal change, the substantial change - are still to >follow. > >But what has not happened, as some critics have implied, is some sort of >major revolution suddenly occurring in the magistrates courts. The >business of the courts, the decisions of that court are no different this >week, or next week, than they were before the apology. > >The world as the 'legal eagles' know it has not been turned upside -down. In >a real sense, nothing has changed. > >But this also means that there is, in reality, "nothing" standing in the >way of the Chief Justice - or any other state body - making their >commitment to the reconciliation process. > >In my view, this unwillingness to make even symbolic change to our >institutions must now be challenged. Instead of the great minds and powerful >leaders of departments, in our legal system and in parliament saying why >things "can't" be done. > >It is time we heard from these powerful institutions and leaders how these >things "can" be done. And time for this next stage of reconciliation to >begin. > >Eddie Smallwood >Chairman, Townsville Regional Council of ATSIC, mobile 0417605 397 >20 August 2000 > > > > ------------------------------------------------------ RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznet2%40paradigm4.com.au/
