Wednesday, 31 May 2023

National Reconciliation Week

Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (09:45): I begin by acknowledging the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation as traditional custodians on the land where we gather today and the land which encompasses the south-east. I acknowledge that this land was never ceded, and in this parliamentary term in particular, where we will see real treaties negotiated between traditional owners and the state, I pay my deepest respect to elders past, present and emerging and so look forward to that important progress.

This week is National Reconciliation Week, an opportunity to focus on how we can strengthen relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Indigenous voices must be elevated and respected as we come together to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and how each of us can contribute to truth-telling and reconciliation.

We have taken great strides in Victoria, but this year is particularly significant for reconciliation given the up-and-coming referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament – the opportunity to give constitutional recognition to our First Nations peoples. Legalise Cannabis Victoria will be supporting a Voice to Parliament, and we look forward to working with our respective communities as we progress through Australia’s next steps of reconciliation, including treaty and truth-telling.