Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Exactly. I did not ask about where it says it is taking away culture—that is inherent. I am asking: where is it safeguarding culture and language in this legislation and in this program? We are talking about boarding schools. To come to boarding schools people move away from home, in most cases. Will there be facilities for the Indigenous language to thrive as well as English in those circumstances and, if so, how is that going to be provided? The same goes for the culture. I am not asking where this legislation says it is going to damage culture or language. I am saying that this enormous move is, by dint of the announcements made by the Prime Minister and the minister, one of reacculturation to have Indigenous people become integrated more into the prevailing and dominating Australian culture and to be schooled to take part in it. Where are the guarantees that that will not be at the cost of Indigenous language and culture, and where are the provisions for promoting language and culture in this legislation?