THANK YOU RFS
This week marked the tenth anniversary of the apology to the stolen generation.
We shouldn’t underestimate the hurt, pain and upheaval that the forced removal of Aboriginal children had on individuals and families around Australia, including in our own region. Some grew up not knowing that they had living parents or siblings.
Could you imagine not knowing who your family was? Families give us our sense of identity and place in the world. Not knowing your family would be a heavy burden to carry through life and not one I would wish upon anyone.
The loss of Aboriginal culture which accompanied the policies of removal was also profound. In Parliament this week the 10th annual Closing the Gap report was delivered, revealing four of its seven targets to improve Indigenous health and welfare were not on track.
It goes without saying that there is a huge amount of work to do. The other issue that has been discussed this week is the possibility of an Indigenous voice to parliament.
Last year, Indigenous people from around Australia met for One of the great things about living in the Central West is the way our communities come together in times of need.
Over the last few days our communities again rallied with the bushfire emergency at Orange.
RFS and other emergency services personnel have come from all over the region to lend a hand and help protect lives and properties.
I paid a visit to the Canobolas Zone RFS Headquarters on Sunday and I have to say the situation was extremely tense.
There was real concern that the fire was going to a Constitutional Convention. It resulted in the Uluru Statement from the Heart which called for a “First Nations Voice” to be enshrined in the Constitution. The proposal of an Indigenous voice to parliament was immediately dismissed as being a call for a third chamber of parliament. While I don’t believe Australians are looking to add another chamber to our nation’s parliament, I also don’t believe that this was what was actually being called for. We’re talking about an advisory body here. To me, dismissing the desire for Indigenous input into legislation affecting Indigenous people so quickly doesn’t do the proposal, or the work that went into it, justice. I would like to see us all working together, in good faith and in a bipartisan way, to look at the options and see what we can come up with. I don’t see any harm in that.
Nobody can change the Constitution without a majority of people in a majority of states agreeing to it so nothing can be forced upon Australians against their wills. To succeed, public support would be essential. You never know. If we all work together we might surprise ourselves at what we can achieve. head towards the Pinnacle and threaten homes in the area.
Superintendent David Hoadley and his team looked exhausted but they went about their duties with a calm and determined professionalism that I wish the broader community could see.
I would like to extend the heartfelt thanks of the community to the Rural Fire Service and brigades from around the region, NSW Fire and Rescue and all of the other volunteers and emergency services personnel who have come together to meet this extremely serious threat.
They personify the best of our region and Australia.