Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's been four years since the Uluru Statement from the Heart was drafted and delivered, and what we've seen from this government, from those opposite, is nothing. It's been four years of postponing making a decision on what is a very modest ask—that we acknowledge the truth and the history of our country and give the world's oldest continuing culture a voice. But there's still no sign of a referendum on constitutional recognition of First Nations Australians—no action, no leadership. The seat of Solomon, which I represent, is on Larrakia land, and my friend Richie Fejo is the Chairman of the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation. His father is Larrakia, but his mother, Nanna Nungala Fejo, is a member of the stolen generation, taken from her family and her tribe in Tennant Creek. Her story was told by Kevin Rudd in his apology back in 2008, in this place, when there was action and leadership. Her story was told, and today is National Sorry Day, so I want to continue telling the story. First Nations Territorians are dying whilst waiting for compensation for the abuses that they suffered while in the Commonwealth's enforced care, in places such as the Retta Dixon Home in Darwin, in my electorate. They deserve a lot more than just sorry; they deserve some compensation, and Australia needs to do better now.