Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

or COX () (): I rise to speak to this urgency motion on treaty. The Greens wholeheartedly support the calls for treaty across the country; indeed, we have echoed those calls. We are the only Commonwealth country without a treaty with its First Peoples. This is in fact shameful, but it's not due to a lack of interest or a lack of trying. First Nations people of this country have called for a treaty since colonisation began over 200 years ago, and we continue to call for a treaty. Treaty is a part of acknowledging historical wrongs and providing an opportunity for these wrongs to be actually addressed. A treaty will provide a much-needed structure to navigate the relationship between First Nations and non-First-Nations people for the betterment of everybody.

First Nations people have had treaty dangled over them, but we are yet to see that come to fruition. In 1979 the Aboriginal Treaty Committee was established. It ceased in 1983. In 1988 former prime minister Bob Hawke promised a treaty. This was abandoned in favour of reconciliation. In 2017 the Uluru Statement from the Heart called for truth, treaty and voice. As we know, we are in the process of—hopefully—implementing only one aspect of those so far, which is the Voice to Parliament. In last year's October budget, there was $5.8 million set aside for preparatory work for a treaty, but we've yet to see any real progress. It is crucial that we see progress on all elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and that includes truth, treaty and voice. Importantly, progress on all three can happen at the same time. Truth and treaty will take years and possibly decades, but there is always more truth to be told, so why not start now? Governments can't keep mentioning treaty when it suits them, to get some good media or to look like they will take action. We actually need progress. We need a treaty commission established. We need negotiations to begin right now. My colleague will dive into more of this information.

But we don't just need a treaty; we also need investment in First Nations community led solutions, good governance to help support them and also legal reform. A key reform is implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in federal law. A crucially important element of this declaration that I've spoken about many times in this chamber is free, prior and informed consent. Another important aspect of this is nation building in preparation for treaty negotiations.

However, it's important to note that there's not one single thing that will solve everything. There is no silver bullet, no panacea. There is so much work to be done in this space. We need to listen to what First Nations people have been calling for.

We know what we need. And a treaty is great, but it's only part of the story.