While on the subject of rights, it is important to realise that there is a difference between the existence of rights and the enjoyment of rights. There are many examples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people not being able to enjoy the human rights which they unequivocally possess, together with all other Australian citizens. In the last month, there has been a storm of political debate and comment about Aboriginal affairs. This has centred on the well-known embarrassing semantics about the stolen generation in the Government paper, and, through a coincidence of timing, on the tragic death of a juvenile in detention through mandatory sentencing. Before commenting on these recent events, I believe it is important to say that reconciliation is not primarily about politics, let alone party politics.
Reconciliation has to be a people s movement.
Reconciliation is a struggle for the hearts and minds of people all 19 million Australians. That being said, it is precisely because of residues of racism that the Indigenous reaction to the recent political events was so strong. It is important for all Australians to be aware of the intensity of the hurt, anger and frustration, particularly, of course, among members of the stolen generation. In their case, wounds that had begun to heal were reopened. These events highlighted the great importance and the urgent need of reconciliation.