Patrick Dodson (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Reconciliation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator McCarthy, move:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges that the NAIDOC Week is being held nationally from 8 to 15 November 2020, after being moved from July due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and will celebrate the resilience and creativity of First Nations culture by hosting many events online;

(b) recognises the theme 'Always Was, Always Will Be' acknowledges that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this country for more than 65,000 years and that sovereignty was never ceded; and

(c) marks NAIDOC Week by affirming its commitment to the aspirations of First Nations people as expressed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and commits to the new way of doing business in partnership with First Nations people and organisations, acknowledging the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The government supports NAIDOC Week and is committed to working in genuine partnership with Indigenous Australians, as demonstrated through the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the Indigenous voice co-design process. The government will continue to follow the recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Question agreed to.