Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

This is an argument about symbolism versus practicality and practical implementation of policies. We would say that we need both: that we have constitutional recognition of the oldest continuous culture on the planet and, at the same time, that we implement and improve—through consulting, rather than imposing, and through bringing people together—the policies that are designed to support First Nations people. It's that we do both and that they're interlinked. That is the whole point; it's not one or the other. There is universal agreement that we need to see improvements for First Nations people, in a whole range of areas—health, education, jobs and economic security, housing, community safety and all of that—but that doesn't mean that we should walk away from this opportunity— (Time expired)