Search results

I am here today partly because Michelle Castagna was quick off the mark in organising me to come before I had accepted any of the numerous other possibilities for events for the international day.

I hope that you are not expecting from me a speech full of stirring rhetoric, to inspire you before you settle into detailed and practical discussions throughout the rest of this conference.

There are many influences on government when it comes to Indigenous policy creation. Many have contrasting opinions, some are for pecuniary or self interest, some because they feel Indigenous people get too much, others because it is a power trip, others because of an academic interest and for others because they want to see an improvement in the quality of life of Indigenous people. This speech considers:

I’d like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this country and pay my respect to Elders past and present.   I’d like also to acknowledge my fellow panel members and thank Richard for inviting me to speak tonight. 

Over the last 7 years I have become more and more convinced of one thing - this is my second theme. To deliver equality for women we need to focus on men.  We need men taking the message of gender equality to other men.  It’s not about men speaking for women or saving women.  We can take care of ourselves, thank you very much. It is about men stepping up beside us, working in partnership with us, so that promoting women’s leadership becomes everyone’s business.  It’s about men as equal partners with us in ensuring that the WEPs come to life to transform our businesses and communities to move us to a world where – power and leadership is shared equally between men and women.

I am speaking on behalf of Dr William Jonas, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. Dr Jonas is unable to be here today, with doctors having advised him he is not able to fly at this time due to a recurring illness. Dr Jonas sends his apologies and has asked that I deliver this speech on his behalf. He has asked me to express to you his appreciation for attending today and to thank Parry Agius and Lowitja O'Donoghue for agreeing to speak at this launch.

I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners, [the Gum-bay-ngg-irr people] whose land we are meeting on and thank them for welcoming us to their country. I congratulate AIATSIS and NSW Native Title Services on organising this conference and thank everyone gathered here for your efforts to make this a successful conference. I am honoured to be invited to address you today.