Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The Morrison government has failed to deliver; it sure has. It has failed to deliver a society where First Nations people are safe and equal, a society free of racism and discrimination. The Morrison government has failed to deliver justice to our First Australians. That's why tens of thousands of people have been protesting in the streets. Yet what does the Prime Minister focus on when asked about police brutality and black deaths in custody? He praises statues of colonisers, he denies slavery and he condemns protesters. He is definitely silent on the racist policies and institutions that are costing lives and tearing families apart. If only he cared as much about black lives as he does about protecting statues.

Black lives are at risk every day in Australia, and all the media and public attention on police violence hasn't stopped police officers attacking innocent people. On Monday, the South Australian police assaulted and wrongfully arrested Noel Henry. This violence isn't unusual, but this time it was filmed. South Australian police have now started an internal investigation. Police officers investigating other police officers—we know how that will end. Just today we have learnt that a senior counterterrorism police officer in New South Wales delivered a gross and mocking acknowledgement of country at a police Christmas party last year. This speech was reworded to acknowledge 'the Tactical Operations Unit nation' instead of traditional owners. It was stomach churning and disgusting and shows the unbridled disrespect and contempt that police have for First Nations people.

First Nations people in Australia are the most incarcerated group per capita anywhere in the world. We have seen 437 black deaths in custody and not one conviction. Every day, new stories emerge of how differently Indigenous people in this country are treated from everyone else, and this is all happening on their land, on stolen land. It is this original and ongoing sin that has taken root in our unequal power structures, in our racist institutions and in our laws, yet the Morrison government is nowhere. We must stop police brutality and systemic racism against First Nations people and other people of colour. We must make up for our original sin, dismantle systems of oppression and finally see justice for First Nations people. All of us must examine our own settler colonial history, listen to and centre black voices and actively work to decolonise.