Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Peris, Senator Siewert and Senator Xenophon, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that 13 February 2014 marks the 6th anniversary of the National Apology to Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

(b) recognises the significance of the apology and its meaning to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

(c) confirms its support for the recognition in the Constitution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first Australians; and

(d) confirms a multi-party commitment to work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Close the Gap on Aboriginal disadvantage.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank those opposite who co-sponsored this joint motion. I would also like to thank the National Sorry Day Committee for ensuring that this now sacred day is not forgotten and that we commemorate it each year. As many in this place would know—it has been on the public record—I was initially a bit of a sceptic about the impact that this Sorry Day, this apology, would have on Aboriginal and Islander Australians. I have also put on the record that I now know of the profound impact the apology had, particularly across my friends. It was clearly a transformative experience.

Now we need to move to the next steps to ensure that Australia lives this apology, recognising the First Australians in our Constitution will be a significant step on this journey. All of us working towards that end need to ensure that we are inviting people along on this journey, not creating a clash or a polarised position. This needs to be an invitation to this very important journey. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.