Uncle Robbie Thorpe
Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (10:12): Krauatungulung elder and Richmond local Uncle Robbie Thorpe has been fighting for First Nations justice in the courts since the 1980s. He first challenged the Australian government in 1982 over their failure to protect First Nations people and their complicity in genocidal crimes of colonisation. He argues that requiring any prosecutions of genocide in Australia to obtain written confirmation from the Attorney-General of a government that itself was founded on genocide is a glaring conflict of interest and flies in the face of international law and the genocide convention. This week Uncle Robbie Thorpe continues his fight, taking the Attorney-General to the Federal Court for complicity in genocide and asking whether the constitution protects Aboriginal camps and Aboriginal remains from desecration. Today I want to recognise Uncle Robbie’s pursuit of justice for his ancestors, for the earth and for all our children’s children. His battles will be remembered as the existential questions of our time, questions that our governments still refuse to confront. Thank you, Uncle Robbie. This always was, always will be Aboriginal land.