Katie Allen (Higgins, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak on the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme (Facilitation) Bill 2021 and the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021. I'd like to start by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we stand, the Ngunawal people, and pay my respects to the elders past, present and emerging and, in particular, to note the moving comments made by the previous speaker, the member for Barton, and acknowledge the work that she has done in supporting Indigenous Australians.

The bills before us today are incredibly significant. They address the topic that for so long was ignored many years ago, and then for so long not acted upon genuinely but which this government seeks to address, with a commitment that is practical and works to address measures in this issue. That topic is reconciliation, one of the darkest chapters of our country's history, and we cannot turn a blind eye out of shame. We must face this issue and work towards a future that addresses and assists with the healing of the trauma caused.

The Redress Scheme is just one step in healing and acknowledgement of the harm caused by forced removal from family that was experienced by victims of the stolen generation and the financial and wellbeing focused reimbursement that addresses this.

These bills before us today will support intergenerational healing and hope to positively impact the lives of survivors. They allow for the facilitation of the Redress Scheme for stolen generations survivors. They will ensure that participants of the Redress Scheme will not be adversely affected by decreased access to other Commonwealth funds. This is only logical, as we cannot punish those who our country has already caused so much pain to in the past. Moreover, the bills will ensure that there is crosschecking of identity information, so that these reconciliation efforts are directed towards those who truly deserve it and cannot be exploited in any way by others. These bills stand as an important step in the Morrison government's commitment to reconciliation. The gravity of the bills before us cannot be understated, for they stand to solidify the Redress Scheme to protect Indigenous Australians as we, as a nation, pursue reconciliation.

The Morrison government will be investing nearly $400 million over the next five years in the redress effort. It will encompass a focus on both financial security and wellbeing for affected individuals, as I'm sure all of us in this place are keen on. These bills affect those who were forcibly taken from their homes in the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory or the Jarvis Bay territory. I'm proud to be a member of the national redress committee. The Redress Scheme itself encompasses a one-off payment of $75,000 in recognition of the harm caused by forced removal, combined with a $7,000 healing assistance payment in recognition of the variety of manners in which an individual undergoes their own healing journey.

On top of these financial reimbursements, survivors will be given the opportunity to confidentially tell their story and to receive a face-to-face or a written personal response. As a paediatrician, I know how important it is for people to be able to share their story. In fact, as a doctor, there is much to be said about the healing power of the telling of a story. Bedside manner is incredibly important, but the narrative of a shared story has an important therapeutic component. In circumstances where the stolen generation survivor has recently passed, an application on behalf of their family or estate can be submitted—an acknowledgement that the trauma experienced by survivors transcends the generations. Of course, not all problems can be solved with this government effort, but it does stand as one small crucial step in acknowledging the economic imbalance Indigenous Australians do face.

The Redress Scheme is by no means the only action the Morrison government is taking to address the conversation of reconciliation. Indeed, in the 2021-22 budget the government committed over $50 million to fund over 100 organisations supporting members of the stolen generation and their families. This support includes important activities such as family tracing, so that stolen generation survivors can understand their ancestry and learn of their families. It is harrowing to think that they have been disconnected and discombobulated from their inheritance, and the ability to be able to find and trace that lineage and pattern is incredibly important for people who are seeking to understand where they've come from. Reunion services are also being funded, so that these Australians can again meet their families and share a crucial connection that no redress payment itself can offer. Not only this but various counselling and healing support services will be made available to provide emotional support to help mend the lasting pain caused by family separation.

The Morrison government is not limiting government support to stolen generations survivors. Instead, all Indigenous Australians are privy to support. This builds on the work this government is doing to close the gap. That is why last year's budget commitment to deliver support to Indigenous Australians to build skills and find employment is so important. This comes alongside efforts towards education, with a focus particularly on the young. On top of this, the Morrison government has committed hundreds of millions of dollars towards women's safety and economic security, mental health, aged care, as well as the environment and management. As we all know, the gap between Indigenous Australians and nonindigenous Australians has been broad and wide, and has not closed at the speed we would all like. The gap is in education, health, life expectancy, employment, housing and youth in detention. In fact, the rates of incarceration of Indigenous Australians in this country remain a national disgrace.

The Redress Scheme will be survivor focused and trauma informed, to ensure that there is no further harm done to survivors. Stolen generation organisations will be consulted as the scheme is refined to ensure that it is culturally appropriate and gives Indigenous Australians the best opportunity to reconcile with the past and move into the future with stronger financial and wellbeing foundations. There is not only this; the National Indigenous Australians Agency has consulted broadly across the various departments of the Commonwealth government to ensure that the bills will have their intended effect.

The Morrison government has sought, and will continue to seek, the very best advice on how to implement reconciliation efforts in this country. It cannot be a matter for government to decide all policy regarding issues of this nature; we must consult with Indigenous Australian agencies and groups to understand the suffering of these Australians. That is why the government has done so much preparation for this scheme in the bills that are presented to us today. At this point I'd like to note, as the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt—himself an Indigenous Australian—has said, that we need to codesign all that we do. Indigenous Australians have had enough things done to them; we now need to work to make sure that we do things with them, like the Indigenous concept of yarning. That's why I support the Voice and am very proud to be on a working group on Indigenous recognition in this parliament.

These bills and the redress scheme they represent are never going to be enough to truly say sorry to the Indigenous Australians affected by the stolen generations and their families, but it's certainly a step in the right direction. As Australians, we cannot forget our past. The way forward is not to feel shame, but optimism and hope in the future of our country—optimism that we can, someday, reach a point where Indigenous Australians are on a level playing field and aren't brought down by the continuing effects of past policy. As I said in my first speech, a strong country is a country at peace with its past. This bill is one more step on the path to atonement and reconciliation, and for this reason I commend these bills to the House.

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