Indigenous leaders, currently spearheaded by former senator Pat Dodson, are pushing for similar national truth-telling and treaty in AUSTRALIA procedures. This past month, Dodson—the father of reconciliation—was upbeat. He’s convinced that the federal government can play an integral role in moving this effort forward in a meaningful way. He emphasized that the current parliamentary majority held by the government could facilitate progress in establishing a framework for these critical discussions.
We know Pat Dodson’s vision is a bold and holistic engagement with Indigenous communities across the nation. There’s no shortage of intellectual, technical, and policy leaders who are eager and able to make our infrastructure smarter and better. Senator Malarndirri McCarthy was the first to support his call for action. She hasn’t ruled it out and she says she’s definitely on board with the idea of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, so watch this space.
Federal Government’s Role and Support
The current federal government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has a historic opportunity to take the lead in truth-telling. Dodson stressed the importance of the government’s majority in parliament. He proposed that this newly cemented majority could help bring the ambitious initiative to life. He said he was heartened by Labor’s early pledge to pursue reconciliation, saying,
“I’m encouraged by the fact that the commitment that the Labor Party gave some time back, before this election, is still on the agenda.” – Pat Dodson
Dodson made an additional but powerful comment — that talk needs to be matched by action. He emphasized the importance of a coordinated strategy to roll out these programs, stating,
“Obviously it’s got to be committed to and then they’ve got to set up a process to enact it.” – Pat Dodson
Senator McCarthy reinforced this sentiment, stating, “We have an opportunity now to have a look, with our new parliament, with our second term of government, to see what we can do moving forward.” Her comments demonstrate a desire to learn from Indigenous perspectives and move toward reconciliation.
Challenges Ahead
While there is a lot of optimism in the air about Dodson’s initiative, hurdles still exist. Senator Kerrynne Liddle, Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister, dismissed suggestions that recent votes reflected a rejection of Indigenous issues, indicating potential political resistance. Furthermore, Dodson’s push may be affected by the Prime Minister’s recent retreat on Makarrata, which some attribute to opposition pressures during the referendum campaign.
Thomas Mayo, a prominent advocate for Indigenous rights, commented on the political climate surrounding these discussions. He stated,
“It was under some duress from an opposition party that were invigorated somewhat from their successful nastiness during the referendum campaign and…were feral anytime anything positive in Indigenous affairs was mentioned.” – Thomas Mayo
Mayo said she hoped these kinds setbacks wouldn’t stop movement, adding, “I believe that time has left us now.”
Community Engagement and Future Steps
Beyond political will, Dodson says it’s important to have the community engaged through the truth-telling process. He challenged McCarthy to cast a wide net and engage a multitude of community leaders, and implored the importance of listening to everyone’s unique narrative. He stated,
“But it’s a great thing because we’ve got to start listening to the different stories.” – Pat Dodson
This sentiment is echoed by other Indigenous leaders who want to see a more inclusive approach to reconciliation. The Tasmanian Liberal government’s commitment to establish truth-telling commissioners has been viewed as a promising step towards realizing Dodson’s vision.
