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Acknowledge Aboriginal history on Australia Day: Tas Govt

By Barbara Pongratz

14 January 2008 - The State Government is encouraging Tasmanians to reflect on the country's Aboriginal history this Australia Day.

The Community Development Minister, Michelle O'Byrne says for many people, Australia Day is a time of national pride, but Tasmanians need to understand that the day, for many Aboriginal people symbolises a day of dispossession.

Ms O'Byrne says it is important for the community to reflect on the past in order to move further towards reconciliation.

"We have to continue to understand that for some while this day is about finding a new land and a new hope, for others it's a day of dispossession," she said.

"And as we go though the process of reconciliation we must pay respect to that as well."

Ms O'Byrne says there is room on Australia Day for both national pride and reflection on past mistakes.

"We're not an immature nation, we're a growing community that can actually have the maturity and the courage now to say there are some things in the past that we cannot be proud of," she said.

"And we need to work together to journey though, and Tasmania, I think is leading the nation in terms of reconciliation."

Source: ABC

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