Minister for Indigenous Australians
Can I firstly thank Aunty Violet. Not a day goes by that I'm not grateful for walking here on your Country, and my heart is extremely grateful to you and your families for your welcome, always.
Today's pretty special. So many people have been involved with this National Plan, and I'm so conscious that now we have the National Plan, it's about what we do next.
To each and every one of you who have been involved, a sincere thanks.
I know it's not easy, and at times you probably felt like you wanted to walk away and no doubt there'll continue to be frustrations as we go.
But one of the most important things is that we stay at the table and we keep trying, not for ourselves, but for the people that we're here to represent.
And not just as politicians representing Australians across the country, but each of you as leaders in your own homes, in your own families and communities.
A heartfelt thank you for the work you've done, and the work that you're going to continue to do.
I just take a moment to reflect on the deeper meaning today, and I have no doubt that each and every one of us has examples in our own lives of family and domestic violence, and I just ask that we think about that for a moment, because that's the real reason why we're here.
If I can share with you my reflections.
Eight years ago, we had an organisation from Central Australia come down here, the Tangentyere Family Safety Group.
We were in opposition at the time. They lobbied very strongly for what we are embarking on today, and we've never forgotten.
And not just the Tang women, there's so many of you, and I acknowledge Antoinette as well, with your passion over many decades.
It's the continued advocacy that you provided in our years in opposition that has led us, as a government, to be here with you, proudly, with this plan today.
Your advocacy matters, and your voice definitely matters.
So, when we take a moment to reflect on our own personal experiences, I also reflect on what's happening with the families at Lake Cargelligo.
There are families across the country, like those in Lake Cargelligo, who are still in desperate need of support, of love, of healing, of being surrounded in good ways to come through the other side.
I reflect on my brother and the loss of his daughter just before Christmas.
We are still yet to bury my niece. The coronial inquest is yet to take place.
Waters are now flowing in the northern part of the country that make it impossible for funerals to happen at all.
So, there is so much that matters with this plan.
A heartfelt thank you.
Change begins now.
As we walk out these doors, as we walk around the floors of Parliament House, that change happens now.
For that, I thank you.
