Introduction
Thank you Milton for your words of welcome. Thank you also for the blessings for a fruitful day of sharing through listening to each other and hearing each other’s’ words.
Jalangurru lanygu balangarri. Ngayininyanyjili Bunuba nhingi, Bunuba ngarri thangani wila ngira Yaningi. Matha wilinyagu thangani ngindaji yani u guru wiyi yani u biyirranggu ningi thangani wilawungay Yaningi.
Thank you, Ambassador Mansfield.
Welcome to you all and thank you for coming here today.
It is custom in Australia to acknowledge country. Therefore, I would like to acknowledge the First peoples of the land we gather on and pay my respects to elders past and present.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO has launched the Hear Us, See Us exhibition at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
The exhibition includes photos and videos of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls who took part in national consultations for the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) project.
Commissioner Oscar said she’s proud to be able to share the voices and stories of so many inspiring and strong women and girls with an international audience.
Jalangurru maningarri, ngarragi yani. Wadi jalangurru yathanggirragi.
Two years ago, we gathered in the red dust for a ceremony at Uluru and offered a gift to all Australians.
There was a great sense of hope about what this gift could deliver. A new beginning, an opportunity to re-define who we are as a country. A country that celebrates its First Peoples and resets the relationship between all Australians for a better future.
The Close the Gap Campaign has welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment to work in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to address the inequality that continues to exist in life expectancy and other outcomes.
The Prime Minister Scott Morrison has tabled the Government’s Closing the Gap Report and restated the government’s commitment to work collaboratively in a formal partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO has welcomed the announcement of new funding for the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) project.
The Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion today announced $1.7 million to support the second stage of the project, as part of the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children.
Commissioner Oscar said Stage Two of the project will build on the success of the national conversation with First Nations women and girls.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO and the Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples Rod Little, will today release the 2019 Close the Gap report – “Our Choices, Our Voices”.
The report, prepared by the Lowitja Institute, is being released at a community event at Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation – Aboriginal Medical Service South Western Sydney, as part of National Close the Gap day events around the country.
Jalangurru lanygu balangarri. Yaningi warangira ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Gadigal yani U.
I acknowledge the Gadigal people of Eora Nation whose land we gather on tonight, and all your elders past, present and emerging.
And I acknowledge all of my esteemed colleagues from the Australian Human Rights Commission including Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher.
There are many other names around the table there, and in this room – too many to mention. Many of you are close friends and wonderful professional partners in the very important work we do.
Jalangurru lanygu balangarri. Yaningi warangira ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Nambiri, Ngunnawal yani U. Balangarri wadjirragali jarra ningi – gamali ngindaji yau muwayi nyirrami ngarri thangani. Yaningi miya ngindaji Muwayi ingga winyira ngirranggu thangani. Yathawarra, wilalawarra jalangurru ngarri guda.
