I am honoured to make a contribution to this symposium, and I am pleased that the Academy has recognised reconciliation as a process of peace. Reconciliation is indeed working towards a culture of peace in Australia. And when we think about it in that light, it is fair to say that it is all Australians who must be the peace-makers. Today I want to talk about why we need to make peace between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider Australian community. In so doing, I will explain how reconciliation will take us forward as a nation into that peace and how the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation sees its reconciliation documents serving that end.
Reconciliation is the work of the whole nation.
From our homes and schools to our universities and professional organisations, our workplaces to our governments, there is not one area that cannot benefit from understanding Australia s true history and recognising the unique rights of the first Australians. When federal Parliament established the Council in 1991, it recognised the wrongs of our shared history over the last 200 years. The Act was an acknowledgment that this country was not at peace. Reconciliation was the process towards making peace. Council was asked to foster wider community appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures ad achievements and of their unique position as indigenous Australians.