Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the “shock and fear” felt by First Nations communities, in the wake of the alleged January 26 attack, during his Closing the Gap speech in parliament on Thursday. Source: SBS News.
In attendance was a cohort of Stolen Generations survivors, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander figures from around the country.
Addressing them, Mr Albanese’s speech acknowledged the tension and emotion felt throughout the community since the alleged terrorist attack.
“Many of you have been providing comfort to people grappling with shock and fear,” he said.
“People imagining how much worse things could have been … The danger of that alleged attack was real – and so was the racism and hatred behind it, motivated by a white supremacy ideology.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the right to gather and express their views, without fear of violence.
“More than that, you have the right to a full and equal place in our nation and our future, unburdened by discrimination or disadvantage.”
The annual address, which updates the Parliament on the progress of the Closing the Gap targets, has revealed what has become a predictable pattern of advances for some targets, stagnation and even deterioration for others.
Four targets are on track, while six are “improving”, the Prime Minster said.
Mr Albanese touted the expected achievement later this year of a 95 per cent preschool enrolment rate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. But a further four areas have stalled or are going backwards.
“The most urgent is suicide … Suicide shatters families, it tears apart communities.
“As a matter of priority, our government will deliver $13.9 million to boost the national support line, 13YARN.”
Despite the disappointing results in several of the CTG targets halfway through the ten-year plan, Mr Albanese said yesterday that the Government is “not contemplating failure”.
Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy echoed Mr Albanese’s statements.
“I’m pretty pleased with the work that we’ve been doing. Clearly, we’ve got more to do,” she told the ABC yesterday.
The introduction of new laws in the Northern Territory and Queensland, under the so-called “tough on crime” approach, have led to a marked increase in the number of people in the justice system, especially those on remand.
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‘Racism and hatred’: PM flags dangers in annual Closing the Gap speech (SBS News)
