The anniversary comes a week after a recent major review of the Closing the Gap agreement where the Productivity Commission warned that policies meant to improve life for First Nations people will fail without fundamental government changes. 

The government is scheduled to table their annual report today on the progress of the policies and programs tied to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. This report will analyse progress from 2023. The government will also present the next Closing the Gap Implementation plan to outline the new actions they’re taking to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. 

“The entrenched inequality experienced by many Indigenous Australians is completely unacceptable,” said Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney. “And unfortunately, actions so far have not led to the change needed.”

“The first Productivity Commission Review on the National Agreement on Closing the Gap makes it clear that all governments need to do better– states, territories and the Commonwealth,” she said. “We’ll work with the Coalition of Peace and across governments to consider the findings of the report.”

Marking today’s significant anniversary, Burney met with members of the Stolen Generations and their families in Canberra.

Post by @lindaburneymp

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The national program amplifying the voices of the Stolen Generation– The Healing Foundation– has said that as the government’s annual progress report on Closing the Gap policies is handed down today, “we must recognise that Stolen Generations survivors are a ‘gap within the gap’, a statistical indicator of truth not reconciled.”

As Stolen Generations survivors age, urgency grows,” the Foundation said in a statement. 

“We must ensure consistent and adequate compensation is seen by survivors in their lifetime. And with many survivors sadly passing away, there is no time to waste.”

“We invite Australians to stand alongside Stolen Generations survivors as we renew our call for the counting of actions, not anniversaries.”

Labor announces $707m job program for Indigenous Australians

The Albanese Government has also announced it will invest $707 million in a new Remote Jobs program that will create 3,000 jobs over the next three years.  

This new program is meant to replace the widely-criticised Community Development Program (CDP). 

Speaking to these developments, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy told the ABC that the CDP is currently the sole employment opportunity for most First Nations people in remote areas, but over the last 5-10 years, it’s had “some really serious problems”.

“When we came to government, we said we needed to look at the CDP program and abolish it because we recognised it didn’t have superannuation, it didn’t have holiday leave– it didn’t have all the entitlements that come with supporting workers.”

“So this is our first step,” she says, adding that the Prime Minister’s announcement today is “significant” as they embark on the future of this Remote Job program. 

The government says the program will start in the second half of this year, and will be “grounded in self determination”, allowing communities to decide what jobs are created, such as in community services and the care sector, hospitality and tourism, horticulture and retail.

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But our history stinks of division – the hatred towards migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, the exclusion of women and people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and of course, the systematic oppression of our nation’s First Peoples.

In more recent times, Australians have worked to disrupt the divisive discourse that has plagued our country with rallies, protests and speaking out against old traditions, including so-called Australia Day.

But this offends those who hold power in a system built on patriarchy and white supremacy and refuse to accept any other way of life.

Let’s be specific here: it offends Peter Dutton.

On Thursday, after Woolworths and BIG W announced they would no longer stock “Australia Day merchandise” in stores leading up to January 26, Peter Dutton declared Australians, in retaliation, should boycott Woolworths.

“I don’t want to go into Woolworths and be told how I need to vote, how I feel about Australia Day,” he said in an interview on 2GB radio.

“If they don’t want to celebrate Australia Day, well that’s a decision for them, but I think people should boycott Woolworths.”

He described Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci’s decision as following the “woke agenda of Anthony Albanese”.

Later in the interview, Dutton aligned Banducci with former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce for “doubling down” on the decision.

Let me repeat: Dutton likened the sale of Qantas plane tickets for more than 8,000 already cancelled flights, to Woolworths and BIG W no longer selling hats, temporary tattoos and beach towels with the Australian flag on it.

Dutton’s comments took many Australians right back to his divisive strategy during the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, where more than 60 per cent of the country voted No to constitutional recognition of Australia’s First Peoples.

Particularly because, on the same day, none other than the leading No campaigner Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price jumped on-air to back Dutton’s comments.

“I think we should be boycotting those who are prepared to not be proud of this country,” Nampijinpa Price said on 3AW.

Unity, not division

When I speak with people who aren’t from Australia and know very little about the country, I find it really hard to explain why we have a public holiday on January 26.

What was once a day I naively loved, a day I carelessly spent at the beach playing cricket and kicking the footy around as a child, I now know is a day that causes my fellow Australians so much hurt and so much pain.

January 26 marks the first day the British colony touched down on Indigenous land, the first day of what would be decades of erasure, oppression and, ultimately, division.

I don’t celebrate Australia Day because I hope one day we can be united, not because I want to cause division. I, like many Australians, don’t celebrate Australia Day because we are yearning for change.

But those who benefit from our current power structure are hesitant to change, and they’ll give any excuse to avoid progress just so they can be in the room where it happens.

Nothing new from Dutton

Disguising hatred and division with arguments of freedom of thought and unity – unfortunately, it’s nothing new from Dutton.

We saw it in November, when he accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Question Time of being complicit to growing anti-Semitism amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

We saw it in the lead up to the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum in October, when the No campaign recklessly distributed bouts of misinformation not only about the Yes campaign, but also about Australia’s independent voting body, the Australian Electoral Commission.

Each time Dutton says or does something divisive, he’ll say it’s all in the name of a united Australia.

But our country has never been a united one, and it never will be unless we change something.

Australians want this change. In fact, Woolworths cited a lack of consumer interest in Australia Day merchandise as the reason they are no longer stocking items.

“There has been a gradual decline in demand for Australia Day merchandise from our stores over recent years,” Woolworths said in a statement.

“At the same time there’s been broader discussion about 26 January and what it means to different parts of the community.”

If anything, a staunch capitalist like Peter Dutton should be picking up what consumers are putting down. Take the politics out of it, and Woolworths’ decision is simply responding supply and demand. 

But there is politics in everything, and as Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said on Thursday, this is a “culture war” declared on the left by Peter Dutton.

When asked to respond on Dutton’s comments, Anthony Albanese told Melbourne radio station Fox that Australia Day should be a time to “reflect on what it means to be Australian”.

It’s time Peter Dutton listens to Albanese’s advice, and gives up the charade that he is working in the name of unity.

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On Saturday, at the AFL grand final in Melbourne, Indigenous singer Jess Hitchcock performed a version of Waltzing Matilda with Kalkadunga multi-instrumentalist and composer William Barton at the pre-match show.

The Melbourne-based singer wore a floor-length dress with the word “Yes” printed on front and back and the following phrases “Voice”, “You’re the Voice” and “Always Was, Always Will Be” across the rest of the dress.

Before her performance, Hitchcock joined Melbourne-based Indigenous clothing company, Clothing the Gaps in showing off their advocacy for the dress. 

“Get around Saibai woman @jesshitchcock who performed with @williambartonmusic at the #aflgrandfinal and who wore her values!” the post read. “Despite, the @afl silencing any #Voice promotion on the day even though they supposedly support it – Jess stood strong!” 

After her performance, Hitchcock posted a clip of her performance on Instagram. Of course, not everyone was happy about the dress. Several people weren’t happy with the mixing of sports and politics, sharing their views on X. 

Last month, an AFL spokesman told Nine newspapers that Voice displays would not be run during the September finals series. This, despite the AFL (and the NRL) declaring its support for the Voice back in May.

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A post shared by Clothing The Gaps (@clothingthegaps)

The AFL’s decision to not actively campaign during this time was criticised by Clothing the Gaps, who wrote in a post that “any #AFL player or the Clubs @collingwood_fc or @brisbanelions could have taken this opportunity to show their support for a First Nations Voice at the #aflgrandfinal2023 – but, disappointingly they didn’t,” referring to the two teams competing in Saturday’s finals.

“Both #Collingwood & #BrisbaneLions have released statements saying they support the Voice but, today there was only one lone ranger using the final dance to influence the Nation, and she was a Saibai woman – she will be celebrated and respected but will also cop all the racism and hate!”

“It is a privilege to choose when and how to show up in support of First Nations justice, one that is not afforded to First Nations people. Today, the AFL and Clubs exercised their own privilege in deciding not to speak up and use their platform to encourage wider Australia to have conversations and write ‘yes’ to recognising, listening and better outcomes for First Nations people.”

In the same Instagram post, the brand praised Hitchcock, who has family origins from Saibai and Papua New Guinea as the “one lone ranger using the final dance to influence the Nation.”  

Hitchcock’s dress was made by Nevada Duffy, an independent womenswear designer from Melbourne, who purportedly worked with the singer on the ‘Yes Dress’ creation. 

It’s not uncommon for public figures to display their political agendas on their attire. 

Recall Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “tax the rich” emblazoned gown she wore to the 2021 Met Gala, and the handful of Greens Senators who rocked up to last year’s Midwinter Ball in Canberra with gowns emblazoned with strong environmental messages. Claudia Perkins arrived in a white gown with “Coal kills gas kills,” written in red and black letters while Senator Sarah Hanson Young arrived in similar style, wearing a white, floor-length dress with “End gas and coal” written on the back. 

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A post shared by Jess Hitchcock (@jesshitchcock)

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This year, however, I’ll be holding my breath.

I’m terrified that in the upcoming finals matches in the AFL and NRL, some fans may start “booing” or “slow-clapping”, following the advice from former AFL player Sam Newman.

In an episode on his podcast You Can’t Be Serious – a phrase that came to my mind when I first heard the 48-second exchange with co-host Don Scott – Newman told listeners the next time traditional owners “trot out a Welcome to Country” at a public event, fans should “start booing… or slow hand-clapping”.

“Because we don’t want to put up with it. We are not going to be patronised,” he said.

“This is dividing the country more than anything. We want to be one homogenous group of people living together and respecting one another.”

We’ve heard this before. In fact, the No campaign against the referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament is centred around the “division” based on race it would cement in Australian society.

But I can think of a few other things that are dividing Australia much more than a Welcome to Country.

Division looks like the vile, hateful, racist remarks that flood X (Twitter) and other social media platforms against Indigenous people, including from key No campaign advocate David Adler.

Division sounds like a room full of people, predominantly white people, led by a white politician, chanting the catchphrase “If you don’t know, vote No”.

When I see and listen to a Welcome to Country at a public event, the last thing I feel is division.

When people, particularly white people, say they want to be “one homogenous group”, it eerily echoes assimilation and the rhetoric from the Stolen Generation. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were stolen from their land and their families in a systematic, government-led, decades-long process to “homogenise” Australia, to eradicate an entire 65,000-year-old history and culture. Communities were torn apart, lives were lost and the damage is almost irreparable. 

Small ways of recognition like the Welcome to Country keeps cultures and histories alive. Bigger forms of recognition like the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament could keep people alive. 

Ignoring First Nations peoples – whether it’s by disrespecting the Welcome to Country, or voting No in the upcoming referendum – would mean Australia would go right back to where we were 100 years ago. That is not an Australia I want to live in.

But let’s play “devil’s advocate”, as Karl Stefanovic did on Nine’s Today Show this morning with Senator Lidia Thorpe. At what point does a Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Country become a box-ticking exercise?

Last night, I returned to my high school for an event, and to begin, a student read out the Acknowledgement of Country. To my surprise, I could recite every word.

Because it was the same 30-second Acknowledgement of Country I heard when I started high school ten years ago.

It is a performative Acknowledgement of Country like the one I heard last night that encourages people like Sam Newman to disrespect the practice. This is why schools, churches and other institutions must work closely with the Indigenous communities in which their institution lies to create a respectful, appropriate and special Welcome to or Acknowledgement of Country.

Finally, to those who have a problem with the Welcome to Country, believe it or not, it has nothing to do with you individually. It has everything to do with acknowledging the incredible survival of First Nations cultures and histories, despite invasion, colonisation, systematic racism and overall mistreatment.

My hope is that on grand final day next week, I am filled with the same feeling I get every year when I watch the Welcome to Country, and I’m hoping my feeling of dread is unfounded.

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In this pertinent episode of Dateline, set to premiere tonight on SBS, the proud Indigenous journalist and beloved Living Black host asks whether or not having a voice in parliament will make a difference to the lives of her people.

In the lead up to Australia’s historic referendum vote to change the constitution to reflect First Nations people, Grant’s deeply personal journey through the Arctic Karla allows her to hear a range of perspectives on the Sámi Indigenous Voice to Parliament, and learn if their voice is actually being heard in the halls of power. 

Speaking with Women’s Agenda, Grant says the insightful conversations with the Sámi people demonstrate that, “while the Sámi Parliament model may not be perfect, it has played a huge role in keeping their culture alive and instilling pride within their people.” 

“It’s also given them a seat at the table in decision making,” she adds, noting that it has been a huge step forward for their people compared to where they stood as oppressed people without a voice centuries ago. 

Parallels across cultures

While filming the episode, Grant says she came across many similarities between Sámi people and First Nations people in Australia, despite the geographical distance.

“I formed a very close bond with the people I met and I easily slipped into conversations with them because of the bond we share as Indigenous people,” she says. “There were many emotional moments as they opened up to me and they said many things I could instantly relate to.”

“For thousands of years the Sámi were persecuted to the point where many denounced their Sámi heritage, they were not able to speak their language, practise their culture or wear their traditional dress,” says Grant. 

While many were forced to hide their “Sámi-ness” because of this persecution, Grant says that these days they’re finally able to celebrate their culture and “are stronger than ever in their identity” thanks to the formation of the Sámi parliament in 1989, establishing the right for Sámi to have a say on matters concerning their people.

“Once I heard about this history from many of the Sámi people I spoke to, it was clear to me that the impact of colonisation is something we share and that in itself creates a bond for us as First Nations people facing who have experienced similar struggles, even though we live at opposite ends of the world,” she says.

Insights for Australia

Looking at how the Sámi people’s success in revitalising their culture could potentially translate to Australia, Grant says one of the initiatives she’d love to see replicated is funding to teach children their language and culture from an early age.

In Norway, Grant says “ One initiative provides funding to those working in kindergartens and gives out language grants so that infants attending kindy can learn the Sámi language.”

“This would be a wonderful initiative to have in our own kindergartens as well as primary and high schools for Indigenous kids to learn their own Aboriginal language.”

“I wish that my mother and grandparents had been able to teach me our language so that I could in turn pass that on to my own children,” she says. “I feel that language is a huge part of our identity as a people and for me that part is missing.”

Will the Voice to Parliament make a difference?

From speaking with the  Sámi, Grant says she’s been able to conclude that while there’s no perfect model, the Voice to Parliament has potential to give First Nations people a seat at the decision-making table,  revitalise culture and strengthen Indigenous identity. 

“From speaking with Sámi from different walks of life during the course of filming this story, and after learning about their history and hearing about how their Parliament works, I can see where it has made a difference and I can see where it is struggling,” says Grant. 

Amongst it all, however, she says the Sámi are in a “far better” place from where they were before they were given a voice. 

“When you take a step back and look at it, the Sámi Parliament has been in existence for 34 years,” says Grant. “Nothing bad has happened to Norwegian people or their country, the sky has not fallen.”

“And while it hasn’t been an easy path the Sámi will continue to fight for the rights of their people.”

Watch Dateline’s The Sámi People episode on Tuesday 19th September at 9.30pm on SBS, SBS On Demand and NITV and visit the SBS Voice Referendum portal and SBS On Demand Voice referendum hub  to be informed, in your preferred language.

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The charge, an historic first in Australia, has been welcomed by many within the Indigenous community who believe a blind eye has long been cast on police brutality toward its people.

Walker died after he was allegedly shot at Yuendumu, a town 300 kilometres from Alice Springs, on Saturday night.

It’s reported that two police officers, including Rolfe, arrived to arrest him for breaches of his suspended sentence. The shooting occurred shortly after, with the officers claiming Walker had lunged at them with a knife– allegations which have been disputed by the victim’s family.

Over the last week, several candlelit vigils and peaceful protests have been carried out across the Northern Territory and in major cities, and when news broke of Rolfe’s arrest last night, a vigil staged in Alice Springs was met by rapturous cheers.

Rolfe, who grew up in the national capital and attended the Canberra Grammar School, has since been released on bail. NT police confirmed that no further details of the incident would be released subject to court proceedings.

While Federal shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney told ABC radio today that there was “enormous surprise” in the community that bail had been granted, Walker’s family was calling for calm.

There’s no doubt this case has become a symbolic marker of Australia’s vexed race relations and a hopeful precursor for change.

Academic and Kamilaroi woman, Amy Thunig spoke tearfully and passionately on ABC’s The Drum last night, saying it was time for Australians to stop overlooking similar injustices.

“We’re really angry,” she said.

“We’re at 21 Indigenous deaths at the hands of police– whether that’s in police custody or police presence– in a year. In one year.”

“We are devastated. We are outraged. I speak in solidarity with this community because this son is our son,” says @AmyThunig in response to the shooting of 19-year-old Indigenous teenager Kumanjayi Walker in the NT. pic.twitter.com/GFGMdxbqgc

— ABC The Drum (@ABCthedrum) November 13, 2019

A similar call to arms has been made by thousands on social media over the past few days.

Allies now is your chance to stand up for our people. If you can protest about climate change and marriage equality, you can call for justice for the First Peoples of this land you call home. #IStandWithYuendumu #JusticeForWalker pic.twitter.com/M30RSpgzLu

— Shannan Dodson (@ShannanJDodson) November 12, 2019

Melbourne #JusticeForWalker pic.twitter.com/D6ZumcACZT

— Danielle Priest (@danielle_priest) November 13, 2019

“We will see truth. And we will live truth.” #JusticeForWalker #BlackLivesMatter #StopDeathsInCustody https://t.co/IcAcXBVd8V pic.twitter.com/43yXQvBmSL

— suze montgomery (@suze_montgomery) November 13, 2019

On Tuesday, prior to the ruling, NT police officers urged those on social media to be mindful of what they posted.

“There is a lot of public commentary especially on social media which could influence witnesses and not allow the investigation to run its full course,” it said.

“Out of respect to the deceased man, his family, Yuendumu, the wider Warlpiri community and the welfare of the officers involved, we ask that social media users are mindful of the hard work being done by the community leaders to support the grieving and maintain community safety.”

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