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Action to speak as loudly as words in push for treaty

by Claire O'Rourke

8 November 2001 - The Australian Democrats have called for a treaty or agreement with indigenous Australians to be included in the national process of reconciliation.

The party's leader, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, launching the party's reconciliation policy in Sydney with her deputy, Senator Aden Ridgeway, said the Democrats recognised the importance of ``rhetoric and talk and the symbolism", but action was equally significant.

``A national reconciliation process is about overcoming social disadvantage, but also about recognition of cultural and political rights," she said.

The policy was launched at the Aboriginal Dance Theatre in Redfern with the aid of the Aboriginal singing trio Stiff Gins, who performed their first single Morning Star.

The policy outlined provisions for performance benchmarks for indigenous service delivery by governments, constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians, reparations for the stolen generations and support for the ongoing work of Reconciliation Australia.

Senator Ridgeway said the policy was part of a broader indigenous affairs platform ``which covers health, education, deaths in custody, economic development and employment, support for recognition of cultural rights, native title and land rights".

Earlier yesterday, Senator Stott Despoja told ABC Radio she was disappointed with media coverage of the Democrats' campaign. ``I've visited a number of electorates, launched every Senate candidate that we are running in each state and territory ... and been quite happy to discuss anything from employment strategies to science and innovation," she said. ``Whether or not I get publicity or promotion on those issues seems to be up to the media, not me."

Senator Stott Despoja denied she had stolen the limelight from Senator Ridgeway, who was campaigning, but had not attracted the same coverage.

She said the aim was to be promoted as party leader in the same way the leaders of the other parties were promoted.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Further information: Australian Election 2001