ICS Seminar Series

A civic conversation jointly hosted By the ICS and the Whitlam Institute

• Date: 7 March 2019
• Time: 11.00am – 1.00pm
• Venue: Building EB.G.02, Parramatta South Camus

PURPOSE

This seminar is offered as an opportunity for civic conversation about the Uluru Statement from the Heart: its roots, significance, and the implications of First Peoples’ assertion of their ancient sovereignty, and desire for constitutional reform that recognises their rightful place in this country.

The First Nations Peoples in the Uluru Statement chose not to address themselves directly to the Government nor even to the Parliament but to their fellow citizens: ‘We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future’.

This conversation seeks to accept that invitation in this small way.

BACKGROUND

On 26 May 2017 over 240 delegates to the First Nations Constitutional Convention released the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The statement was the culmination of a deliberative process which saw a series of regional dialogues among First Peoples leading to the Uluru convention.

The Uluru statement called for ‘the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution’ and a Makarrata Commission to oversee agreement making and truth-telling.

On 30 June 2017, the Referendum Council recommended that a ‘referendum be held to provide in the Australian Constitution for a representative body that gives Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Nations a Voice to the Commonwealth Parliament. One of the specific functions of such a body, to be set out in legislation outside the Constitution, should include the function of monitoring the use of the heads of power in section 51 (xxvi) and section 122. The body will recognise the status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of Australia’. On 26 October 2017 the Prime Minister, on the decision of Cabinet and on behalf of the Government, rejected the Referendum Councils’ recommendation and the core of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

On 19 March 2018 the Parliament agreed that a Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition be established to inquire into and report on matters relating to constitutional change. The Committee tabled its final report on 29 November 2018. There is no government response as yet.

SPEAKERS

• Aunty Mae Robinson will be offering the Acknowledgement to Country.
• Teela Reid is a proud Wiradjuri and Wailwan woman born and raised in Central Western NSW, where she grew up in her home community of Gilgandra. She is a lawyer, currently working with the Legal Aid Commission of NSW.
• Geoff Scott is currently CEO of the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council and was CEO of the Referendum Council. He is a Wiradjuri man from Narromine in NSW with more than thirty years’ experience working in Aboriginal Affairs. Geoff has held senior executive positions including CEO NSW Aboriginal Land Council, Director General NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Deputy CEO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.
• Karen Mundine is CEO of Reconciliation Australia. She is from the Bunjalung Nation of Northern NSW. Over the course of her career she has been instrumental in some of Australia’s watershed national events including the Apology to the Stolen Generations, Corroborree 2000 and the 1997 Australian Reconciliation Convention.
• Tim Rowse is Emeritus Professor with ICS. His most recent book is Indigenous and Other Australians since 1901.
• Moderator: Adjunct Professor Eric Sidoti, ex Director of the Whitlam Institute now a member of the Institute for Culture and Society

FORMAT

After the welcome to country each panelist will speak for 5 minutes about their thoughts on the Uluru statement before open questions and conversation with everyone present.

AUDIENCE PREPARATION

It is expected that everyone who attends this seminar will have taken the time to read the Uluru Statement from the Heart(opens in a new window).

Also recommended is Professor Megan Davis’ recent Henry Parkes Oration on: Reimagining a Nation: Indigenous recognition, constitutional reform and a future Australian republic which was recently broadcast on ABC Radio National’s Big Ideas. https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bigideas/indigenous-recognition-as-a-step-towards-an-australian-republic/10772592(opens in a new window).

Please join us for lunch after the event for further conversation.

RSVP by 5 March 2019 to Elise Blight e.blight@westernsydney.edu.au