Disunity as Aboriginal people hear ‘powerful’ apology
Callum Godde |
A formal apology to Aboriginal people for one state’s past atrocities has fallen short of attaining unanimous support, irking elders and leaders.
Premier Jacinta Allan issued the apology in Victorian parliament on Tuesday for laws, policies and practices that contributed to injustices against Aboriginal people.
Lands and waters were taken without consent, communities displaced, languages silenced, children removed from their families and lives lost.
Laws and policies of colonial and Victorian governments enabled the acts “not by accident but by design”, the premier said.
“To ensure that the wrongs of the past are never repeated, we say sorry,” Ms Allan told the packed lower house.
“To all the First Peoples in the gallery today, and to every community across this state, we say sorry.”
Parliament was recalled for a special sitting to hear the apology, which was recommended by the Yoorrook Justice Commission and committed to under Victoria’s Australian-first statewide treaty.
The Victorian opposition did not support the apology because the wording “endorsed” treaty, which the coalition opposes and has vowed to repeal if it wins the state election in November 2026.
It triggered a vote on the motion, which passed 56-27.
Labor MPs shouted “shame” as the Liberal and Nationals whips announced their parties’ votes, before the chamber erupted in applause when the final count was announced.
In her speech, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson apologised for past laws and policies that caused hurt and injustice but noted the moment was not without precedence.
In 1997, Liberal premier Jeff Kennett apologised in state parliament to Aboriginal people on behalf of all Victorians for past policies that led to the removal of their children.
That apology garnered bipartisan support.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also offered a formal apology to all Indigenous Australians, particularly the Stolen Generations, in 2008.
Ms Wilson said the modern-day political dispute reflected a difference in approach and pledged to address Aboriginal disadvantage if she was elected premier.
“Actions matter and they matter far more than mere sentiments,” she said.
“Too often, we hear a sentiment expressed in the community that we have inherited collective guilt.”
Legislation to enable Victoria’s treaty with Aboriginal people passed parliament in October after terms were agreed by the state Labor government and First Peoples’ Assembly.
Assembly co-chair Rueben Berg said the day was not about the opposition’s actions but rather the words of the premier, Treaty Minister Natalie Hutchins and Greens leader Ellen Sandell.
“It’s a really powerful moment in Victoria’s history and Australia’s history,” the Gunditjmara man said.
It was “highly disrespectful and incredibly disappointing” for the coalition to try to “take away from the moment”, former Yoorrook deputy chair Travis Lovett said.
“(There was) a lot of dog-whistling going on, trying to deflect,” he said.
Indigenous Elder Jill Gallagher AO called the apology a beautiful moment but lamented the lack of bipartisanship.
“Apologising and acknowledging all of the crimes against humanity on our people … should not be a political football,” she said.
The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation chief executive marvelled at her 99-year-old mother being alive to hear the apology after six of her 10 children were taken away by the state.
“Not because she was a bad mum … it was because she was Aboriginal,” Ms Gallagher said.
Ms Sandell backed the apology but argued it would be “negligent” to ignore the Allan government pushing through controversial ‘adult time for violent crime’ laws earlier in December.
The hardline sentencing changes will disproportionately impact Aboriginal children, the Greens leader said.
“I fear that in 10 or 20 years time a new parliament, filled with new people, will have to stand in this exact place and apologise again,” she said.
The statewide treaty establishes a legislated, democratically elected body that must be consulted on laws and policies affecting Aboriginal Victorians.
A public celebration of the treaty’s commencement will be held on Friday evening at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena.
AAP
