Kara Cook (Bonner, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On National Sorry Day and at the beginning of National Reconciliation Week, we reflect on the truth of our shared history and the responsibility we all carry to walk forward together. Sorry Day is about acknowledging the pain, trauma and injustice experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly the stolen generations, and recognising that the impacts are still felt today across families and, of course, communities. Reconciliation asks more of us than symbolism. It asks us to listen, to learn and to have the courage to tell the truth about our nation's history, even when the truth is uncomfortable. That is why the Walk for Truth that arrives at Parliament House this week, led by Travis Lovett, is so important. It is a powerful act of truth-telling, healing and connection.

Walking together across communities reminds us that reconciliation is not passive. It is something that we must actively choose and work towards every single day. Truth-telling is not about division; it is about respect. When we understand the full story of this country, the strength of the oldest continuing culture on this earth, the injustices endured and the resilience shown through generations, we create the foundation for a stronger and more united future. Meaningful reconciliation begins with the truth, and the truth must be heard.

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