Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today an open letter was sent to all members of parliament calling for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the UNDRIP, to be legislated. This states:

Following the failure—

the shameful failure—

of this year's referendum for constitutional recognition—

that no-one wanted—

and a Voice to Parliament—

that no-one wanted—

many people are wondering what the pathway forward is for improving the lives of First Peoples.

Legislating UNDRIP is an immediate action the Australian Government can take to fulfil its promises to strengthen First Peoples' rights, including the right to self-determination and cultural rights … this will have tangible and lasting benefits for First Peoples in this country.

This open letter is signed by a range of human rights experts, First Peoples and NGOs, with 80 signatories in total, including Les Malezer, who was the Chair of the Global Indigenous Caucus when the declaration was adopted by the UN General Assembly, and Dr Sheryl Lightfoot, Chair of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The High Commissioner of India supported it. Professor Chelsea Watego and Amnesty International supported it. After today I will table a petition, with 2,323 signatures, calling on the parliament to legislate UNDRIP.

If the government wanted to legislate UNDRIP they could do it tomorrow, when my private senator's bill will be debated. Legislating the UNDRIP is not controversial. It sets a minimum standard for First Peoples' rights. If this government won't support my bill then it should at least have the decency to legislate UNDRIP in this term of government. Stop being so gammon, Labor; stop talking about black rights. (Time expired)