National Reconciliation Week

This week is National Reconciliation Week. This year we have the opportunity to recognise two significant events in Australia's history.

May 27 marks the anniversary of Australia’s most successful referendum and a defining event in our nation’s history. The 1967 referendum saw over 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognise them in the national census. 2012 marks the 45th anniversary of the ’67 referendum.

 On 3 June, 1992, the High Court of Australia delivered its landmark Mabo decision which legally recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a special relationship to the land—that existed prior to colonalisation and still exists today. This recognition paved the way for land rights called Native Title. This year is the 20th anniversary of the Mabo decision.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the original inhabitants of Australia, and to acknowledge the contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait people are making to our community now. Thankyou.

For more information about National Recognition Week download the Let's Talk Recognition Kit.