Mr BAYLEY question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
You were at the reconciliation breakfast this morning where Uncle Jim Everett Puralia meenamatta and Aunty Theresa Sainty gave powerful speeches on behalf of their community. Both lamented the actions of your government destroying country and trashing treaty. Uncle Jim’s message was resoundingly clear. He said, ‘Don’t give up on us. Put treaty back on the agenda.’ At the request of community, he then walked out of the event to talk to them about how to get you to embrace a treaty.
Premier, your inaction shames us all. It is time to do the right thing, not roll over to the right wing. Given the community’s demands, will you do as Uncle Jim has asked and put treaty back on the table?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It was good to see the member at the breakfast, as well as the opposition leader, minister Petrusma, minister Jaensch, Mr Ferguson, and others, I am sure, were there.
A member – It was awesome.
Mr ROCKLIFF – It was awesome. It was very powerful, actually, some very good speakers and very honest, upfront, strong feelings from Theresa Sainty, Jim Everett, Dewayne Everettsmith , and others, which I listened to intently.
What we need to do, and what we are embarking on is also historic and significant when it comes to truth‑telling and healing. It is significant. I understand the member’s question about treaty, but we need to ensure that we have the truth‑telling and healing process before we can come to other, more formal agreements. That is so important.
What the referendum demonstrated, in my personal view, was that we have not done enough when it comes to informing our community, educating community and supporting Tasmanian Aboriginal people to tell their story and tell their truth. That is why it was powerful today – powerful for me – to listen to that when I was invited on country at Wukalina last year, where we had a very robust and honest conversation with Tasmanian Aboriginal people. When I say robust, I am saying really robust – forthright and frank. I listened to that, and it is important to listen, and to hear – not just to listen, but to hear, as Theresa Sainty said today – and also ensure that one reflects and learns.
This is a learning journey when it comes to truth‑telling and healing. It must come first before any potential formalised agreements. It will be Aboriginal‑led, and then after truth‑telling and healing, the next steps will also be Aboriginal‑led.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Mr BAYLEY – Honourable Speaker, a supplementary question?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Mr BAYLEY – The Premier said that he listened. One of the things that was said very clearly today was that truth‑telling and healing was pointless if it had nowhere to go in the context of treaty. He also said that we have to do that first before more formal agreement. Is he here today saying that treaty is indeed not off the table, and that you will still consider it in the future, or have you ruled it out entirely?
The SPEAKER – I will allow the supplementary, I think it is a bit of a longbow, but I will allow the Premier to answer the question as he chooses.
Mr ROCKLIFF – As I say, further steps will be Aboriginal‑led, but it is important that we embark on, in my view and the view of others, truth‑telling and healing first.
First, I welcome and thank minister Petrusma for ensuring that throughout our budget process, Reconciliation Tasmania has a consistent four years of funding to provide that certainty to do their job well. I mention honourable Mrs Petrusma –
Mrs Petrusma – Thank you.
Mr ROCKLIFF – for that work, but also strong advocates for Reconciliation Tasmania across the parliament, in fact – Mr O’Byrne, Mr Garland, to name just a few.
The SPEAKER – The Premier’s time for answering the question has expired.
Mr Rockliff – I am sorry.
The SPEAKER – I was distracted as well.
