The Tasmanian Liberal Government is taking another step in re-setting our relationship with the Aboriginal community.
Today marks the start of National Reconciliation Week with a tri-partisan agreement for a Parliamentary Inquiry into recognising Aboriginal people as Tasmania’s first people in the Tasmanian Constitution.
Constitutional recognition is a meaningful step towards reconciliation that several other states have taken. Amendments to constitutions in these jurisdictions have all acknowledged Aboriginal peoples as the First Peoples, recognised Aboriginal peoples as the traditional owners and acknowledged the spiritual, social and cultural connections with the land.
There is also a national campaign underway to ask Australians to recognise Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders as our country’s first peoples in the Federal Constitution
This is an integral step as part of the re-set but it is not the only step.
I have met with many Aboriginal organisations which have raised a number of opportunities as we forge this new relationship between this Liberal Government and the Aboriginal community. These include dual names, Aboriginal tourism enterprises and discussing joint land management and possible land returns.
I welcome the genuine tripartite support in the House of Assembly today and look forward to working together when then Standing Committee reports back within 6 months.
More Media Releases from Will Hodgman
More Media Releases from the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs