That group of 67 lived and worked equality and it came to be. They achieved the formal legal equality so as to overcome adverse special treatment. We, the group of 97, must live and work reconciliation and it will come to be. Our aim must be the equality of opportunity for all and the special recognition of the place of indigenous Australians in the life of the nation. We have a long way to go.
Some Aboriginal parents are even afraid to send their kids to school.
The political issues of the moment are the stolen children and native title lands. Gone are the days when these matters can be resolved by the whitefellas giving Aborigines the answers and the leftovers. We have to work on these things together, achieving true co-existence. Yesterday we celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Mabo decision which relates to much more than land. I remain concerned about the ultimate economic implications of Mabo, but now as we approach the 5th anniversary of the decision, I am convinced it will be remembered as a turning point in changing community perceptions and in bringing indigenous and non-indigenous people together to work towards reconciliation.