National Reconciliation Week
Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (09:46): On the weekend I attended Reconciliation in the Park, an annual community event held in Geelong’s Johnstone Park to mark the start of National Reconciliation Week. Were welcomed by Corrina Eccles, a proud Wadawurrung woman and local leader, and I was deeply saddened to hear her speak of the torrent of racism and abuse she experienced following the welcome to country she performed at the AFL’s Indigenous round match in Geelong and how, despite her strength and commitment to her culture, she was starting to reconsider whether she could keep turning up for these events. She spoke of how intense the racism has been in recent times, particularly this year. She is not alone in experiencing this. If you want to see what sort of abuse First Peoples are facing, have a look at some of the chat groups, like I have, discussing the recent cultural management plan for Mount Arapiles, or Dyurrite, and listen to some of the stories of racist abuse directed towards First Peoples that is happening out in the open in some of the nearby rural communities. It is outright vilification, and the people responsible should be held accountable but rarely are. It is absolutely shameful. I refuse to believe that people are so filled with hate and prejudice that they cannot be better than that. Those in positions of power – those with platforms, including all of us in this place – have a responsibility to demonstrate in their words and actions that racism is not acceptable. Reconciliation is a journey, and it is clear that we still have a very long way to go.