National Reconciliation Week has been officially launched in Queensland at Parliament House with the help of Elders, community members, peak bodies and industry leaders.
Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk said this year’s national theme was More Than a Word. Reconciliation Takes Action.
“It urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“The Queensland Government’s commitment to Path to Treaty is one of the most significant actions to promote reconciliation in our State’s history, and listens to and builds upon calls from generations of First Nations peoples,” the premier said.
She said Queensland was shining a light on reconciliation as Governments, communities, corporations and the public built on respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous peoples during the week (to 3 June) and beyond.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Craig Crawford said the Government was committed to a new way of working together.
“This will deliver real change and real outcomes through a genuine partnership approach, to continue the journey to reconciliation,” Mr Crawford said.
“We all have a role to play, and action to take, to make sure the future of Queensland is fairer and more just for all Queenslanders.”
Chief Executive of Reconciliation Australia, Karen Mundine said more than 200 Queensland-based businesses and organisations had a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
“The RAP program is making a difference by markedly changing the way people think and feel about reconciliation, colonisation, and the relationship between non-Indigenous and First Nations peoples in Australia,” Ms Mundine said.
“While we see greater support for reconciliation from the Australian people than ever before, we must be more determined than ever if we are to achieve the goals of reconciliation — a just, equitable, reconciled Australia,” she said.
The Queensland Government Reconciliation Action Plan 2018-2021 can be accessed at this PS News link.
