Cathy O'Toole (Herbert, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This week has been a proud time for our nation, but it has also been a time for sombre reflection, where we celebrate the brave and tenacious fight of our first Nation people, and we reflect on the fact that they were not counted as citizens in this great nation until after the 1967 referendum. Today we had the honour and privilege of having some of our first nation people and their families here, who were involved in the fight for the 1967 referendum. They were here to celebrate the 50th anniversary. We also celebrate and pay tribute to the 25th anniversary of the Mabo High Court decision. On Tuesday morning 20 years ago the Prime Minister received the Bringing them home report.

Herbert includes Palm Island, which is home to approximately 47 language groups, and Townsville is home to a high number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, so this is a very meaningful time for me and my community. I was proud to welcome Mrs Bonita Mabo and Gail Mabo, the wife and daughter of Eddie Koiki Mabo, who live in Townsville, to the parliament this morning. I also acknowledge Professor Noel Loos, who still lives in Townsville. On Monday I listened to the stories of the stolen generations and our very own Florence Onus, who passionately told her tragic family story.

I am proud to stand and say that I value the fact that I share this wonderful land with the oldest living culture. I am in awe of the courage, sheer determination, passion and resilience of our first nation people. Their battles have been long, tough and at times very painful, but they have not given up, and our nation is all the better for that. However, the fight is not yet over. We still have a long way to go, and every first nation citizen deserves no less than a commitment to live a fulfilling life.