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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Indigenous Property Rights: Land, Business and Governance

Thank you Galarrwuy for your warm welcome to Gulkula on your country. It is really wonderful to be here on the occasion the 40th anniversary of the Northern Territory Land Rights Act and another successful Garma Festival. I am a Gangulu man from the Dawson Valley in Central Queensland, I acknowledge...

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Children's rights must come first, says Mick Gooda

The recent death of a 10-year-old in the Kimberley is a tragedy and I pass on my condolences to her family at this particularly distressing time. This tragedy has heightened my conviction that the lives of all of our children in Australia are precious and should be protected at all costs. Nearly 20...

Category, Opinion
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Generation to Close the Gap?

At the heart of this nation, there is a fundamental wrong in the relationship between the First Peoples and non-Indigenous people. We are divided between those who celebrate Australia Day without any thought of the implications of that day, and those who mourn Invasion Day and mark it as Survival Day...

Category, Opinion
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Government’s Healthy Welfare Card no solution to alcohol abuse

In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the country, old wounds are being reopened. Many of our people are being forced to revisit the past trauma of income management and stolen wages. The federal government’s Healthy Welfare Card has created great concern and contention, as the...

Category, Opinion
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Indigenous Property Rights

Thank you Donna Ingram for that wonderful welcome to country. I want to pay respect to the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and pay respect to the elders past and present.

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Universal Periodic Review Reception Address 9 November 2015

Thank you Ambassador Quinn for your warm welcome and thank you for generously hosting us here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging all Ambassadors and Excellencies with us this evening. I acknowledge the grandfather of our Parliament, the Hon Mr Philip Ruddock MP, Special Envoy for...

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Charles Perkins Oration 2015

Acknowledgements Thank you Stephen for your sincere welcome and can I also thank Uncle Chicka for your generous Welcome to Country. I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we sit this evening, the Gadigal Peoples of the Eora Nation. I honour your Elders that have come...

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

White paper has the potential to improve indigenous lives

The Northern Australia white paper has the potential to be transformative in improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples if it increases the respect and value of their property rights and their right to development. The white paper, released just over a week ago, focuses on...

Category, Opinion
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Eddie Koiki Mabo Lecture

Thank you Russell for your kind words of introduction. Aunty Clara Ogleby, I begin by acknowledging and paying my respects to the Kuku Yalanji people, Traditional Owners of the place upon which we sit and talk today.

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Rob Riley Lecture

Thank you Sue for your kind introduction and Simon (Forrest) can I acknowledge your warm welcome and can I reciprocate by paying my respects to the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, the traditional owners of the place that is now known as Perth. I thank you for allowing me on your country. I salute the Elders who are here today, those that have gone before us, and those who are yet to come.

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

We must keep striving to close the gap in Indigenous health

"Just in the last week, three of my closest friends and a relative have been diagnosed with cancer. This is not an uncommon story, to be – as a community – constantly in grief, loss and trauma." These words, from Janine Mohamed, chief executive of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait...

Category, Opinion
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Engage with us, says Commissioner Gooda

It has been just over twelve months since Australia elected Tony Abbott as Prime Minister. It’s been a time of great expectations, anxieties and stress for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Australians. During the 2013 election campaign, Prime Minister Abbott pledged to be the nation’s first ‘Prime...

Category, Opinion
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Social Justice and Native Title Report 2014 Launch

Social Justice and Native Title Report 2014 Launch by Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission

Category, Speech