Thursday, 1 June 2023

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (09:55): This week is National Reconciliation Week, and the theme is ‘Be a voice for generations’. Nothing distils the importance of a framework of visibility, of respect, of healing, of truth telling and of recognition more, in my view, than the bronze statue which was unveiled at Drouin Civic Park last weekend. Joining Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins on the weekend to unveil this statue was a profoundly moving experience. It tells the story of three Kurnai women – women who under threat of significant hardship, the looming shadow of stolen generations, did everything that they could to make and keep their children safe. Dorothy Hood, Regina Rose and Euphemia Mullet are all recognised in this incredible statue, which is also accompanied by a QR code to encourage people to find out more about these amazing women and more about the stories and histories across Gippsland, the ones that tell of grief, of loss, of dislocation and of theft of land and culture and the stories that tell of where to from here as the journey toward reconciliation continues.

Reconciliation week is about visibility, it is about respect, but it is also about where we head from here as a state and as a nation. As we continue our work toward treaty and as the Yoorrook Justice Commission continues its work, I urge people to consider what it is that they will do when they have the power to vote in a referendum on the Voice later this year.