Your Say

In the interests of encouraging discussion and debate about the concept of a Treaty, this website will publish all views submitted.  We reserve that right, however, to exclude any offensive or defamatory comments.

Here you will find a selection of comments added to our guest book. Add your own comments.

Date Comment
3/10/2004 I support a treaty but believe that the indigenous people should also have treaties with each other. Too often we refuse to look in our own backyards, we need to sort out our differences within our own groups, then move on to Australia as a whole then we will have a good basis to help deal with global problems. One step at a time, we will get there. And to all the indigenous Australians... Sorry.
27/9/2004 Waddamooli Yes it would be good if we could live together in harmony. And live on a equal basis. That if everything started like that and if we were allowed to vote or if we counted on the as people in thier own country. First we did not exist Than we were animals Than the policy of white australia In the sixties was the first time we were counted as people. How can we start of equal unless the white people want to give up some of thier hold on austratlia. And allow an economic base

23/8/2004 im 13 and completely agree with this treaty. i think virtually every noe agrees-
13/8/2004 Hi my name is Pat im currently studying natural resources management and i fully support a treaty.

5/8/2004 im a tassie and i dont now much about aboriginals but i do know enough to think there should be a treaty
5/8/2004 im doing an assignment on aboriginal treatys that was given to me by my teacher who is a great role model in showing us who aboriginal people are and what they have been through, i can now proudly say that i am all for a treaty and the aboriginal people deserve it this website has really helped to conclude my beliefs.
4/8/2004 I am a 24 year old Australian Born....half Caste Maori/White male, I am Fortunate to have stumbled upon this site for i am very passionate about Aboriginal issues in australia today, Here is a poem to express what i feel about it to you all. Like Sheep most follow media and graze on feilds of snow ignorant to what they see and blind to what they know time heals all wounds but only if you let it but i still see discrimination and you say just forget it you offer money clothes and soap soap to wash the black away, clothes to hide away in shame, and compensation to avoid the blame snakes hissing while the agressor torments them invading their nests and stealing the eggs away snakes biting and they wonder why......why? they say some of us flowers and some of us weeds...how can we co-exist? it is in our nature evolution is the only way

18/6/2004 I wrote the poem below to express how I feel about the history of Sydney. TREATY YEh! Belonging To This Space Going back in time, to Warrane, Sydney Cove, standing with the Eora watching ships unload. Seeing the white man again stake claim, to something not his, by changing it’s name. Within a few days it was obvious to see, Terra Nullius was false, the land wasn’t free. Still Phillip had plans, a type of assimilation, an exchange of learning, to be the foundation. So he made Tubowghule the point of Bennelong. No longer was heard the ceremonial song of the waters edge, small pox took hold, spreading through tribes like the common cold. Slowly the fences spread over the land, bush tucker locked away from native hands. While friendly settlers offered warm bread, laced it with poison to add to the dead. The warriors engaged in an unwritten war, Pelmulwuy, Tedbury, countless others swore, to fight for the life of their tribal land, being exploited in a way they couldn’t understand. The clearing of trees, the fouling of streams, the desertion of wildlife, unfortunately weren’t dreams. Buildings covered burial sites, middens crushed for lime, the boar rings lost forever, all in such a short time. Standing at Warrane, imaging pre-settlement days, the respect and understanding for Mother Nature and her ways. The connection to the land, knowing of our place as just another species belonging to this space. Copyright Kathleen Morgan 2004 If anyone would like to use this poem just email me for permission.
10/6/2004 Keep up the good work, how are things going recently? there aren't a lot of recent dates on this website. how has the dissolution of ATSIC affected your game plan. as a side issue, i think marcia langton is an ideal person if you were going to promote this even more, could she do some media statements? I keep thinking you could use the media even more. embarrassment Is an effective tool...shame the government, reveal them, put out a manifesto...you will get there in the end...thanks for being active..what does noel pearson think of this...he's got some opinions hasn't he! again resist, shoulder to shoulder.

10/6/2004 i am not happy with the australian government

19/5/2004 I'm a Chinese male. I fully support this treaty
5/5/2004 Hi, im a 19 yr-old uni student who is studying in sydney. however, i was brought up in a small town in Northeast Arnhem Land called Nhulunbuy. Nhulunbuy in a small mining town of about 2500-3000 people and the only reason this township is here is because of the mining company who leased the land off it's Traditional Owners. I personally think that a treaty should be made. we Balanda or 'white people' took over this land many years ago and although it was not our personal actions it was done....it was wrong...but it was done...and we need to aknowledge this. I think that the treaty is extremely important and i dont understand why it has not already been made. Australia is a very multicultural country, therefore, there are alot of different religions, beliefs and ways of living. However, we are all living on the same land. We need to accept and understand our differences and move towards a more positive and equal way of life. The treaty, i believe is a vital part in order to accomplish this.
30/3/2004 Damn Right there should be a Treaty, and more power to all people working to this effect.I am of Irish decent and I must add here that racial tolerance begins at home .Even though it gets boring,I always stand up to people with negative Misconceptions about Murray & Koori people,& I will never tire of passing on my positive knowledge & understanding of a most extraordinary race of people.No matter how white the dinner party or meeting etc., I suggest we all do the same to be heard. Also support black music & listen to Koori Radio in Sydney if you can for some of this country's most awesomely talented musician's!!Yawol Jo
28/3/2004 hello i am a 16 year old white australian i do not know about my backround not as much as i would like to. Maybe even i could have aboriginal background you never know i think that everyone should just forget about racial differences and just come together. Equal rights for both indigenous and white australians we are and allways will be australian.

7/11/2003 i am a 15 year old girl half aboriginal, half european. i am so for treaty to happen. everyone needs to come together and just get over racial differences. we could achieve so much as a nation if we just come together.

4/11/2003 I am a Caucasian 15 year old Australian male, and my heritage is primarily British. I am quite proud of my heritage, and I feel truly sad, and scared every time I go into school. The racist society of today is anything but anti-Indigenous. I suffer racist comments every day because of my heritage. Although I am a born Australian I have a slight, if not clear British accent, and I suffer terribly from such comments. I have been on Immersion treks and played games with the Aborignal communites there, I have had so much fun. Then when I spoke, they thought I was British. I experienced taunts at the worst level, to wary apprehension at the best. The rest of the camp was a purely miserable experience. I did not hurt the Aborignes, I did not cause them harm, so why do they bias all British-descendants. Now I understand that the Aboriginal community has had an extremely bad history of treatment. But I am not responsible for my grandfather's mistakes and I certainly don't want to experience bias from ALL communites as I do now. The Australians, whether Caucasian, Negro, Asian, any race, just send insulting commetns in my direction. I am sick of the talk that Aborigines are so good and the British are the demons, well I'll tell you something. We are people, JUST LIKE THE ABORIGINES. We eat, sleep and get on with life. We made a mistake 200 years ago don't get me wrong, I know it. But now it is the British whom suffer, not the Aborigines. Remember, the British did it because they believed what they were doing was right at the time, for their country, and in the case of the Stolen Generation for the Aboriginal children. I can barely walk down the street without having someone to whom I am talking insult me, and it is not friendly. I am fully against a treaty, to do so only widens the rift. While we embrace one part of Australia, the Indigenous People, we throw out the another race. I am despised for who I am, and where I came from. It's worse than the Aboriginal claims as well. I am not only mistreated by another race, but by my own race as well. At least they had each other, I have only my parents and my small group of friends to offer me comfort. It happened, grow up. It's happening again, but the Indigenous Australians are doing nothing to stop it. The treaty will just increase the racism in another way. Racism is wrong, in any of its forms. The Aborigines seem to be failing to address this problem, concerned with only themselves, allowing the same treatment they experienced to be forced onto another race. No treaty, only peace and acceptance.
10/10/2003 As an Aborigine, A treaty will only work if it is made with each of the 500+ koori nations as individuals. A treaty will not work without all past and present actions acknowledged and compensated appropiately. As well as the issue of land rights, the returning of all unused crown lands and compensation where land can not be returned. Unless these issues are addressed and writen into a treaty then and only then will any form of treaty can work.
1/10/2003 i am a white 15yr old aussie. I fully support this treaty and good on you for getting this far even though it haas gone on for over 215 years

4/9/2003 I support a treaty, I suport reconciliation. When all white australians recognise that aboriginal australians have blood right to our country we can take the next step. And the next step is non-indigenous australians becoming indigenous australians. The rightful culture in my land has been virtually extinguished. In school I was taught nothing of the Kulin, I found out on my own and now I believe that all Australians should know all that can be known about the land they live in. There are stories about the landscape that are ancient and sacred but they are all but lost where I live. Respect for indigenous plants is low in the mainstream. In the cities and towns indigenous plants and animals are disrespected and threatened.. this MUST change. I beleve in becoming indigenous through becoming ONE with the country- working with her, living with her, protecting and loving her. Teaching our children about her, and instilling those teachings so the last another 60,000+ years. God bless our land. Also I call for the replacement of our Governor-General with a Council of Elders. Some from each country on this continent.

19/7/2003 I am white, 38 years old and due to have my second child. I am privileged to live under the shadow of Wollumbin in Bundjalung country - Tyalgum NSW. In 2001 the inaugural Wollumbin Festival was held to bring together those fighting for the protection of the Sacred Mountain and the Wollumbin Forest. This battle has just about been won. But it's only one battle in the (now peaceful) war to truly recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, your culture, your heritage. My background is Dutch, my husband's is English. My children are Australian. I am determined that they will grow up in an atmosphere of peace and tolerance, and knowing what is right and what needs to be FIXED. I am so sorry for all that the indigenous people of this country have suffered. I hope I can begin to help make a difference, even if it's in a small way. The tide of reconciliation is continuing to grow stronger. May we all see justice delivered. AW, Tyalgum NSW
7/6/2003 I fully agree with the concept of a treaty between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians - it's around 215 years overdue. I'm sorry to say though that it will never happen while the present Howard Government is in power - they have clearly returned to the era of assimilation. This government has no real respect for Indigenous people and certainly no understanding. Indigenous people are being (yet again)hoodwinked by these people and should totally boycott this government & make no further land claims or attempts at negotiation until there is a more favourable government in Canberra - just as the Northern Irish peace process had to wait until there was a favourable government in Westminster, Reconciliation, self determination & a worthwhile treaty will have to await a government in Canberra with a non-racist agenda and a modicum of wisdom to achieve a meaningful agreement. A McC (ex-member of an oppressed minority in N.Ireland)
21/5/2003 Well done on surviving this far don't die out on us now :-D
26/4/2003 I THINK A TREATY IS THE BEST SOLUTION TO MAKE, I AM RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!!!!
7/4/2003 Though not Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, I was taken from my mother overseas to live with a white family. Though fitting in after many years, I have remembered my past, for which if mentioned I would be denounced as mentally ill. I feel great affinity for your cause and wish you great success.
18/3/2003 I am a white man. I am proud of the blood that flows through my veigns, but am saddened by the ground under my feet. I see that throughout history, what my colour has done cannot be justified or forgotten. However, I believe that one day my children will be proud to be australian, will learn the beauty of their life from a tradition other than my own. I am crying as I write this. Indigenous australian culture understands life and its journey in a way that most westerners (my self included) are yet to grhtm. I feel that the future peace of australian children lies in the nourishment of our planets most beautiful culture. The only way to begin to heal our population, our nation, is to move away from the continued interests of a land so far away, a country where was born, a land with its own issues and conflicts, its own troubles, no longer relevant. How long do we have to lie to our children, pretending that we are- what we were? As a nation, the reconciliation of all our people is THE most important issue FULL STOP> treaty now, AND for yesterday.
9/12/2002 i am a young indigenous australian and am happy to support anything that would greatly benefit our community. non-indigenous australians need to be more educated on indigenous issues and about our race and culture. they need to also be more respectful that we are the first peoples of this land. indigenous australian culture is wonderful and unique and i think that everyone would benefit by learning more about it. maybe then would non-indigenous peoples understand why we do want a treaty.
29/11/2002 Like land, the aboriginals should still own water, unless there was a treaty where aboriginal ceded non-aboriginals an ownership right in the land or water rights. Seems like the document PR020250(1).pdf produced by The New National Program for Sustainable Irrigation Prospectus MAY 2002 does not even consider who already owns the water rights (the aboriginal people). It appears they intend to set up ownership base upon their share of the investment put forth for the effort to exploit the water, inspite of the fact, this water is already owned by someone else. Aboriginals possess unextinguished vested interest in both land and water.

28/11/2002 TITLE PLANT for maintenance of the superior land records I would like to share some of my thoughts on the issues faced by the indigenous people of Australia. My background is one of being a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation, a Federally recognised Tribe, in the USA in the State of Washington. I suggest that in spite of the fact that Australian Aborigines may not have the financial resources under their control to staff a large effort to achieve their goals, nor an army to accomplish the same goal, they, nevertheless, have the power to clearly define their actual legal status and a coarse of action that completely define their legal position on the continent of Australia. Australian Aborigines need not wait for a non- Aboriginal legislature to enact a solution to provide justice to the situation they find themselves in. My thoughts may not represent anything new; or, they may even be considered radical; however, I believe these concepts to be theoretically correct. Make up your own mind on whether or not something can be done in this vein. Has any thought been given to the idea that indigenous groups, by virtue of the fact that they are Indigenous people, have unextinguished rights and power that have existed since time immemorial or at least before the introduction of the European presence within the continental area of Australia? What are these unextinguished rights? These rights are not created as a result of the Europeans granting a right to Aboriginal groups, but exist and rest with each Indigenous group. Aboriginals have the right to select and take advantage of up-to-the-minute developments in govermental technology. Sovereignty and attributes of sovereignty are defined by the power vested in each Indigenous group. In a peaceful manner the process of wielding the power of sovereignty can be a science and a technology that can be utilized and improved upon. One of the concerns of the Europeans on the continent of Australia is the issue of land ownership, including water rights, mineral rights and so on. In order for the Europeans to legally own land, they must convince themselves that they hold legal title. An important function of any sovereignty is to establish a TITLE PLANT for the purpose of maintaining ownership of land over which it claims Sovereignty. It is the ancient Sovereignty that has the power to formulate the process for defining how Europeans will settle the continent of Australia. If there is any belief that ultimately that treaties must be a part of the solution, then it is important that the ancient Sovereignty take the strongest stance before treaties are established to limit ancient Sovereignty. Aboriginal groups can take a strong peaceful legal stance by wielding their power in a sophisticated way by taking advantage of the latest developments in govermental technology. It is my belief that it is an inherent right of Aborigines to be the custodian of the TITLE PLANT that maintains the superior land ownership records. It is my belief that Aborigines through the power of the written word have the right to establish their target or goals and develop strategies of how to wield in a nonviolent innovative sophisticated way, the power of their unextinguished sovereignty. Instead of asking the Europeans for a solution, it is my belief that the Indigenous people on their continent have the authority to create the framework and process to solve the issue of the continent's ownership. Their power and authority has existed since time immemorial. It is my belief that Indigneous people have the inherent right to, not only be the custodian of the continent's TITLE PLANT where the superior land records are maintained, but also the power to create the TITLE PLANT for the continent of Australia. Indigenous people can help the Europeans solve the problem of ownership by setting up the TITLE PLANT, the framework for working out the issue of continental ownership by granting the Europeans a sufficient land base to maintain their economy and establish a royalty rate on known oil and gas reserves as well as other valuable minerals being exploited within the granted (ceded) land area. In return for the land base being granted to Europeans, the Australian government as now constituted, would agree to protect and not exploit the remaining Indigenous people's land. It is my belief that Aboriginal sovereignty continues to exist today, perhaps in a fragmented way, vested in the various indigenous groups. I see no reason why Aboriginal sovereignty can't be wielded to take advantage of up-to-the-minute government technology and establish a sophisticated way to take the strongest legal stance to work towards solving the issues faced by all parties. What would be the effect if each Indigenous group were to get together to hold a national constitutional convention for the purpose of adopting an Indigenous constitution for the purpose of reconstituting their sovereignty into a national entity? The newly adopted Indigenous constitution reconstituting the Aboriginal sovereignty could cover the entire continental area of Australia while maintaining the regional automony of each Indigenous group. The Aboriginal constitution could stipulate and reassure that no private land will be seized and could define what rights current non-Aboriginal land owners of record have and instruct them as to what the conditions are, they must meet to establish a clear title to land and have it recorded in the ABORIGINAL TITLE PLANT containing the superior record of land ownership. Once reconstituted the Aboriginal sovereignty could be wielded in a peaceful sophisticated way. The constitution could create an indigenous legislative body. The first act of the indigenous legislative body would be to create a TITLE PLANT for the maintenance of the superior land records for the continent of Australia, which would be carried out by and through its Indigenous executive branch. This new TITLE PLANT would be the framework for recording the settlement of all ownership issues for the continent of Australia.
28/11/2002 Having recently attended Treaty conference I would like to convey my congratulations to all organisers, backers and presenters. For me it crystalised the hurdles we need to address on the road to a treaty, fundamental to this, are the bridges we need to cross within our respective family networks and communities a responsibility that lay with our own peoples. I was proud to be a participant and to see many of our peoples up there expressing their in-depth thoughts and concerns and suggestion as to possible ways to advance our cause on the way to treaty. I hope that the same deep analysis can be applied to those areas which may divide us on the way to treaty. Such division can not but fall into the laps of those who would seek to keep us divided, in any area regarding the assertion of our rights as first nation peoples. I would very much like to see a publication a glossary of words and meanings, such as sovereignty and treaty. An analysis which hightlights how jpeople may sue these words in the negative. I would also like to enquire if it is possible to get hold of the video that was shown in the openning of the treaty conference. Good things to you Regards john hartley.
4/11/2002 Hi, for the past 2 years I have been participating in the first step of reconciliation......education..... Australia needs a Treaty and a Bill Of Rights for all Australians...remember that if was not fot Indigenous protest 'white' Australians would not have Youth Allowance (Austudy)... FOCUS ON THE FUTURE , SUPPORT INDIGENOUS RIGHTS...
1/11/2002 A treaty would never be passed here in Australia, for several reasons 1st, it would have to be protected within the constitution so that our rights and advancements and power could not be watered down or dropped at the disgression of the Goverenment of the day. 2nd it took ten long years for our people to simply get the vote that in its self is a reflection of the oppositon we are up against. We were simply asking the right to be ture citizens in our home land and that took ten years of repetitve action. Their is so much more to be attained from the supposed treaty, like compensation of land and damaged land, protection of our intellectual and property rights, self governace, customary law, Aboriginal Bill of rights, we are only 460,000 of the entrie population, the masses rule, we can no longer be given bread crumbs of the white Austrlain table, I dont want eqaulity, as the the white Austrlian phyce depicts it as, I have a blood, heritage that runs deep into this land and a culture that has been around for time immemorial. I deserve my rights as a citizen like all Austrlians and I am also entiled to my inheirt rights from mother earth as an Indigenous Australian.

19/10/2002 Why has response to treaty/reconcilliation/sorry/etc fallen off the agenda? Sure enough current events overtake the media and therefore our minds & converstaions. We seem to be able to easily defer and save for later our dealings with our didposessed neighbors, when the world at large gets too difficult. Like now. We have a horrific event in Bali, as well as the rest of it - US agression to Iraq, Israel running amock on the Palestinians, A sniper in Washington, A murder in Adelaide. The world is swinging way out, it will swing back again (won't it?) but meanwhile the bad goes on. Surely there can be a leader out there that can show some balls, lead with conviction and inspire a change?? I feel sure that when this happens, there will be a domino effect, the world will change. So many of us all are needing some good news, we are hungry for it. Given a glimmer of hope we will naturally lean towards it. Vote for it. If only there was a leader willing to risk all, go out on a limb to offer friendship to his foe, or a similar gesture, popular polls would lean. If so, if only we could vote tomorrow. I will, for the first one to stand up and truly say sorry, accept some blame, and move on in unity. This will make a treaty. PS I vote, and I'm sick of just trying to help vote or keep people out. When a party - not a person - gets together with the guts to try some of the above, we should vote with a vengence. Tim.

18/10/2002 As a white Hungarian-born immigrant, I honestly believe that Indigenous peoples have been so badly treated ever since European settlement started in Australia that serious and effective arrangements must be put in place to repair the damage caused. First of all everybody who contributed or continues to contribute to the suffering and dispossession and cultural vandalism (whether deliberately or unwittingly) against them should apologise for such deeds. This goes for individuals, corporations and governments. Secondly, all effort must be made to compensate for the damage done and ensure Indigenous peoples are respected, valued and given self-determination. All assistance should be given to help them recover from their trauma, become healthy, educated and reclaim their cultural values. They should be properly acknowledged for their excellence in art, sport, bushcraft and knowledge of this land. If a treaty helps to achieve these objectives, so be it!

20/9/2002 I do not believe there should be a ''Treaty'' introduced in Australia. Australia should be one unified nation. The concept of a Treaty is divisive. It signifies an accomodation or arrangement between two separate parts. Whether we like it or not, the Aboriginal community and the broader community (consisting of all people who have come to this country - whether 200 years ago, or more recently) are inextricably linked and interdependant. It is just ludicrous to try to imagine Aboriginal communities existing these days, much less advancing, without the backing and support of the broader Australian community. People should be encouraging unity, not division. People should also be encouraging Aboriginal Australians to move foreward, to take up the opportunities that are out there, (in the manner that people like Cathy Freeman and Leah Purcell and many others have done), rather than encouraging them to perpetuate a ''victim mentality'', and, quite frankly, dwell in the past which, despite many bad things being done on all sides, cannot be changed, and which, on an honest (and I stress honest) examination, reveals that there was a very limited and difficult life for the original inhabitants of this country before white settlement. I also fear that if there was to be a ''Treaty'', it would be like the Reconciliation Statements - heavy on recognition and respect for Aboriginal Culture, but virtually no mention or recognition or respect for any of the massive cultural features and lifestyle features which derived from the cultures of the non-Aboroginal cultures and communities. As a white Australian, I am really sick and tired of hearing every ill which may beset any Aboriginal or Aboriginal Group somehow being blamed on the broader white community. It seems (from the Aboriginal Activists) that there have been no (and I repeat no) benefits to the Aboriginal which has resulting from coming into contact with white and other non-Aboriginal Australians. This is suprising, and easily shown to be demonstrably hollow claims, every time you see Aboriginies living in houses, watching TV, driving cars, flying oversees in Planes, receiving the benefits of western medical and dental services, wearing proper clothing, receiving extensive funding from the broader Australian community (in excess of $1billion) through ATSIC and so on and on. I long for the day when Australia is truly unified and all Australians - black, white or whatever- are equal participants in what Australia now is, and will always be. Australia will never go back to a country or society where we slept on the ground, had no transport systems, and hunted kangaroos and other animals with spears for food, as was done pre-1988. A ''Treaty''would have no part in bringing about a unified Australia that I dream of where all were equal participants. It would divide rather than unify. It would also hold Aborigines back, just as many other ''trendy'' and ''liberal'''policies and programs have done in the past. I urge you to scrap this ''Treaty'' rubbish now, and put more of your efforts and financial resources into really helping your people to more foreward.
16/9/2002 Especially now, as the world's media attempts to continually distract us, .. Now, as they pit us people against people now more than and as much as any other time, unite and defy them, be together. Australia & all else, make friends with your brethren. Especially those with whom you share the ground beneath your feet. Tim, SA.
16/9/2002 I agree with the previous writers that a formal treaty would bring about more communication. Once their is mainstream recognition and acceptance of indigenous rights in this county, there will be more dialogue.
29/8/2002 I believe that a treaty shold be formed with the Aboriginal community of Australia including a formal apology. Aboriginals have suffered a great deal since the first landing of Europeans in 1788. Thats a long time to suffer. I beleive that every white Australian would be extremley angry if people took their children away from them and were/are constantly discriminated against. The treaty should contain a formal apology for the racist actions of our ancestors. It should also include a plan to create a new territory that the Aboriginals can call their own. A plan to financially compensate the stolen generation for trauma they have suffered from being forced to forget their culture, heritage and most of all their families, should be put into place. Lets forget about the past and focus on the future! A future without racism! SORRY!

29/8/2002 I think if we had a treaty it would be for the better as it would bring a lot of peace between our two cultures
11/8/2002 If each local community in Australia has the responsibility of caring for the land and for the people who live on that land, then why is sovereignty denied to each local community? The High Court decision to refuse mineral rights to Native Title holders is the same decision that denies sovereignty over community wealth to all communities around Australia, whether they are indigenous or otherwise. In a modern world where there are plenty of graduates in most disciplines in most local government areas around Australia, why is it still a good idea to give sovereignty or the management of resources to a club of people who join some political party and set up camp in Canberra? Do these club members care for our land and our people? Do they find jobs for our children? Let's get behind the treaty process and form a new Australia.
25/7/2002 There are some prerequisites to a treaty: .the starting point is our local community in particular our own local government community. This is the only sensible building block for a treaty process that will include all Australians. . sovereignty belongs to the people of each local government community. It can only be based upon the living as only living people can have a say and make a commitment to improve the lot of each and every one of us. Sovereignty should be interpreted as custodianship rather than ownership. No one can say they created this land or the resources within it. The creator is bigger than all of us and generally people attribute this to their God. Custodianship is not related to race or ancestry but rather to the willingness and capacity of people to make our local communities a better place in which to live and care for all those in need. . every person deserves the right to have a say about the development of their own local government area. Indigenous Australians deserve to have at least one elected Aboriginal person in each and every local government of Australia. How the candidates are chosen could be tied in with those groups that have bona fide native title to the local area, which includes all of Australia not just the left overs that the current legislation talks about. . many local government boundaries approximate the original tribal or language boundaries of country areas as they are related to viable river and valley systems. In the final analysis it does not matter too much if the boundaries don't coincide because the main thing is that indigenous Australians are not left out of the process of making decisions that affect each and every local community. They do not need to have a dominant voice ( unless of course they represent the majority of the population which is the case in some areas of Australia)because they are intelligent and knowledgeable enough to argue a good point on its merits. Good people will always listen to truth no matter how it is revealed. Truth will always sway the majority. . a treaty can only work if it is based upon positive spiritual motives. Past wrongs unfortunately cannot be righted or judged by any current generation. It is better to follow a course that is based upon positive motives rather than one that reacts to a perceived negative. A more thorough analysis of these issues is provided in my web site treaty.com.au
24/7/2002 While growing my grandmother, who is a respect aboriginal elder of wagga wagga,gave me courage to express myself to those who put me down and treated me different because i am black, and for those who have no idea on the hurt you are bringing apon us by putting us down need stop thinking, that because their race treated our ancestors like animals and slaved them around you can't do it now. you all will stop hurting us and our hearts will heal and we will be heard and we have feelings and people who are in sensative will see that we are stong and we above all people know how to treat eachother with respect!
24/7/2002 I was born in Scotland my wife in India, my daughter in Australa. We live in Australia and are Australians as should be everyone else you lives here. One nation one people forget race or colour.
23/7/2002 Strange isn't it. The PM keeps telling us that we can't have a treaty because a treaty must be negotiated between nations. How come New Zealand has had a treaty since 184? How come Canada and the USA have had treaties for the past couple of hundred years? How come Canada signed the Nunavut treaty in 1993? May be all these treaties are well kept secrets?

22/7/2002 My comment is directed toward the comment made (17/07/02) about 'special rights' for indigenous people and implying such rights would further reinforce racism. Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland Director-General, World Health Organisation, stated 'Despite the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 50 years ago, Indigenous peoples continue to be subject to systematic denial of their fundamental human rights - to cultural identity, to land, to liberty, to health and to life itself... A commitment to preserving the dignity of human beings, and to assuring human rights tell us that we must do everything possible to maintain the culture and livelihoods of indigenous peoples.' I thought this quote summed up the rationale and emphasised the importance of the treaty. It should not be viewed as a separate set of rights for indigenous people but as a method for ensuring indigenous people of Australia aren't denied their rights. Indigenous peoples rights being denied is not through the fault of individuals but because of fundamental differences in cultural beliefs and social structures of the mainstream population and indigenous community. Hopefully further discussion between indigenous peoples and Australian government at local, regional and federal levels will ensure systematic changes are made to improve knowledge/understanding of both parties. Therefore improving equality in decision-making for indigenous people. Providing knowledge and increasing understanding is crucial to combating racism in any form. With globalisation an issue for all Australians, indigenous Australians will be further disadvantaged and disempowered in an ever-increasing Western model of capitalism. Priority needs to be given to developing a treaty and more importantly to concepts surrounding the development of a treaty - research, discussion, and learning from both parties.

17/7/2002 A treaty is a good idea and it will involve a new constitution for Australia. Hence it must include all Australians and allow for full participation by old and new Australians in every community around Australia. To achieve a positive outcome, it will need huge amounts of goodwill and a focus on spirituality of all peoples. We are custodians only of the land we live on as no-one can say they created this beautiful land. To be meaningful, a treaty should be based around local government boundaries allowing for participation by old and new Australians in every local government within Australia. Hence it cannot be a treaty between the Federal government and representatives of old Australians but rather a process that unites every local community in Australia to follow the principles of a treaty. To do this the concept of Crown ownership of resources will have to go and be replaced by community ownership of such resources. This will allow all Australians, native title holders and others to be part of the one process of local community self determination. Readers are invited to examine a detailed analysis of this issue in my web site treaty.com.au
17/7/2002 A treaty to gain 'constitutional recognition that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have inherent rights' (cf 'Benefits of a Treaty' page) is code for what? Special rights? The 1948 Declaration of Human Rights asserts that rights are, well, universal. Does a treaty seek to assert that indigenous peoples have rights inherent only to them? What is the justification for the rights-rich indigenous? How soon the champions of constitutional change move from ridding the constitution of special racial rights for non-indigenous people to campaigning to institute another type of racism. Let's get it right - racism, in all its shades and forms, is wrong.

8/7/2002 Sorry?? The 7/7/02 post does no credit to anyone concerned for this topic. Who is sorry and for what, exactly, can contemporary non-indigenous Australians (a curious deficit term) be sorry for? For benefiting from settlement? This thus implies that successful Aborigines should be sorry too - and poor and alianated non-indigenous people not really needing to be sorry. A treaty similarly delves into this murky and emotive anguish: we need clear thinking not wishy-washy pity.
7/7/2002 SORRY....
13/6/2002 Is the creation of an indigenous aristocracy with priveleged political and legal status really a long term and equitable solution? Does it not entrench the concept that racial type is a legitimate means of political expression? The pitiful state of much of indigenous Australia is undeniable. Many NT communities, according to the only Aboriginal MP, are utterly disfunctional and handfuls of money and political power beyond their numbers is a recipe for disaster. Support the htmirations for a better life but do not enshrine racialist and flawed strategies to meet these needs - they will fail. Is it money and power at any cost?
12/6/2002 As you would treat your own children - treat mine !
9/6/2002 I am a white Australian with ancestors going back to the first white girl to be born in Queensland. I have only one thing to say in response to the blatant racist comments of 29/05. If anything is dying it is attitudes like yours. On the matter of a treaty, its the least that can be done.
5/6/2002 After reading some of the comments posted here, I am disgusted, ashamed and saddenned at the racism in this country. How are we supposed to have reconcilliation with attitudes like this.
31/5/2002 In response to the comment made on the 29/05/02; I can't help asking myself where he/she get their infomation from. The Original owners of Australia's many nations are far from being a dying race, quite the contrary if you consider the low median age of the community. Every year there is a momentum of strength and support for recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders inclusion in the history of a European occupied Australia, even if the Federal Government fails to recognise it. Irrational racist comments are unconstructive but they do provide one with an insight into your intelligence or lack of. Thankfully people with attitudes as such are no longer the majority, as was evident in the NT state elections.

20/5/2002 Register now to participate in the Treaty Advancing Reconciliation Conference, Murdoch University, 26-28 June

11/5/2002 Let's make this 21st Century a turning point for all Australians - recognise our First People, acknowledge their ill-treatment, say 'sorry', give them the means for economic independence - Treaty now!!
29/4/2002 To the person who wrote such an insulting piece (8.11.01). Please do not categorise me in the same group as yourself. "All the other White Australians" do not want what you do. Indigenous people are human beings and they deserve the respect you would give to anyone else. People who live off tax payers money are those who need assistance (that is what the system is for) and, believe me, they are not all Indigenous people. I for one want a more peaceful and accepting society for my Aboriginal children and their non-Aboriginal friends, and if we can gain that through a Treaty than YES let's go ahead. You may not be sorry for the past but you should be sorry about, and ashamed of, your old fashioned and racist attitude. It saddens me to know that people like you still exist in our society. Tamworth n.s.w.
26/3/2002 I am intrigued to learn of the treaties in USA, Canada and New Zealand, and benefits to those countries from these actions. With reconciliation in Australia well supported and negotiated perhaps we can all work together to build a caring country with true equality for all people, of thought first and opportunity second. After this maturing step Australia may be the needed respected world nation to take a positive, objective role in peaceful initiatives worldwide.

19/3/2002 I am currantly a student at Casino TAFE studing certificate level 3 in Aboriginal studies and I have had some close Relations with Local Bunjalang people as I haved lived here most of my life and I say it is a good idea to move for a treaty but be carefull on the approach with the decieving Government it is only time and we will see change it opening up to this very soon keep on asking and it will happen. God Bless this move Amen.
2/3/2002 As a veteran, and an Elder from from the subcultur of an 'Ubrab Aboriginal Person', and also a a victim of the 'stolen generation', I have a point to put forward to the so called 'Aboriginal Leaders' of this country that we worldwide wide call 'Australia'. At the moment the 'bugle call is for Aboriginal Australians to abide by the 'Reconciliation Accord', to forget about the 'Recommendations of the Aboriginal Deaths in Custod Report and the Recommendations of the 'Inquiry into the Stolen Generation', both of which were supported by states and territories of Australia, but, in retrospect, had a ';Sunset Clause; of which demonished the 'Party in Power' from legislative responsibilities they put forward to the community in general to gain office. I put this argument forward to the 'Representatives of Aboriginal Peole and their communities... Should we worry about 'Protocol in relation to emblems(totems), and other artifices of the 'British Mornachy' that apparently embide our Aboriginal Representatives in 'ATSCO', 'SENATE' and other positions within this so called ''equal and socially equational based system of which we have our own people 'bowing & bending to the 'Provisios put foreward by 'Self Directed and power orientated senior public servants, in some cases our own people, accountable to no one but their own pay packets and the 'Nepotism' they propagate, fertilise & encourage for no other reason than to 'feather their own nest'...I am a 48 Aboriginal Veteran, Ex RAN 'Clearance Diver', then, Intelligence Analyst... We as a people have to stop arguing amongst ourselves, and join together to come to an 'Entreaty', not this ridiculous lip service called 'Reconciliation',...their has never been a unification, pre-ordained agreement, treaty or contract or whereby agreement pertainting to a union or pact between the Indigenous occupants of this continent called Australia, never has their been a formal declaration of war between the two aformentioned parties, and in all reasonable being I partition that this policy of 'Reconciliation' be nothing but an example of the inept and ignorance we(the indigenous people of Australia) have had to suffer with since an 'empirical espired Captain of Her Majesties 'Royal Navy', decided to espire to the grandueur authority of authorising this land & its inhabitants to become constituents of and apart aformentioned to the 'Empire' of the 'WINDSOR=DESCENDENCY' And suffer the 'Humiliation, Denigration'(HREOC ACT of 1984)...and to suffice the aformentioned...GENOCIDE in Mind Body & Soul, encompassing culture tradtion and knowledge of the people inherent in every means and fashion to being the original occuputants of the Land Named 'Australia'...and now, in the era of 2002, the continuance of discrimanation, nepotism and subserviance we still have to endure based upon the so called accoutantability of ;'Senior Public Servants' both state and Federal' who answer to no-one, but continu3e to fester and contaminate this so called 'Constitutional Monarchy' - being a 'bastardisation of 'democracy in its originators form - Socrates & Plato - so as to 'feather their own nest', and disregard the genuine problems confronting not only the 3 subcultures of 'Aboriginal Australia' - 'Traditional, Fringe & Urban', but also overlooking and taking into totall disregard the legislation that they are empowered to abide by minus their own 'Rules, Regulations and Memorandums' of which are formulated for the sole purpose of 'Feathering ones own nest' & espoiling to...'generate a provisio and protocol which necessitates their 'self obtained and obligatory,supervisory manipuled...unaccountable self control of a particular unit or department of a 'State or Federal Public Sector Agency' and its artifices under the auspice of 'Legislation' and 'Acts' of which disregard and ombivelence seems to be the 'Statis Quo', for those elevated to such positions have bee seconded, succumbed and utilised for the 'betterment' of the 'Political Persuasion' they may be encumbered to adhere to. I look forward to your feedback, not for 'whinging or sneering', or for self endowment, but for the betterment of the the 'Indigenous People of this Land called Australia'. I say this as a 'Wiraduri Man' first, as a 'Veteran' who has served to defend this country, and foremost as an 'Aboriginal Man', proud and indifferent to the so called 'forces of change'...Aborigine Wiradjuri first, Ex-Clearance Diver Veteran Naval Officer second, Indigenous Australian above all, deter,set and determined to respect my 'Elders', help and nurture the young, teach the law by which our young people have forgetten, and live a life I can be proud of, every time look in a mirror. Wayan Morgan MA.Political Science/International Relations.,Bachelor of Cultural Anthropology., Bachelor of Arts - Philosophy,Psychology, Sociology., Dip.Case Management & Client Services...May the all mighty serpent run strong through your veins, remember the knowledge in all htmects of your life, God Bless and Love you all my Elders, Brothers & Sisters, and those of whom it is our responsibility to nurture , teach and accommodate, the laws of our being. Thank you Wayan Morgan.MA.,

24/2/2002 Treaties will stop this war of genocide. 1770 - ?. It will legitimise the occupation of non-Indigenous Australia and end the complicity of the British colonial invasion. Australian common law remains fictitious and an illegal pirate system until Treaties are signed. At present there are no documents of consent. Until there are the genocide will continue.
21/2/2002 i have just logged on to the treatynow.org website to see some comments by a white australian suggesting that all non-indigenous people in australia don't care about about the issue of a treaty. not true. i'm a non-indigenous person, and i reckon it is high time the rest of white australia started to recognise that we all live on Aboriginal land, that Aboriginal people have never ceded their rights to or sovereignty over. the privileges of being white in australia stem directly from the fact that we conveniently but consistently choose to ignore the illegitimate foundations of the australian state. a treaty or treaties with Aboriginal nations won't fix all the problems that colonisation has wrought, but recognising Aboriginal peoples' sovereignty by negotiating a treaty or treaties would surely be a good start.

12/2/2002 Best wishes and love to my Elders, Brother & Sisters and little ones of our beautiful and diverse Cultur, whether they be 'urban', 'fringe dwelling' or 'traditional' Indigenous Australians, all given the blessing of dear mother earth and the rainbow serpent, all empowered to caretake our beautiful and strong land, but also by virtue of our ancestors to live by the codes and strictures of the law of our elders. In this matter of 'Treaty with the European Invaders and their descendents(as well as the immigrants now in positions of power) we must support and amass complete cooperation in the path the Elders of the 'Traditional', 'Fringe' and 'Urban'Indigenous populations are taking to arbitrate and force the hand of the Commonwealth to partake in discussions and the preparation of a treaty, recognised not only by white mans law and legislation, but also a treaty the elders of the 3 indigenous subcultures, encompassing the Indigenous Australian people, recognise and in a form we deem acceptable. A treaty is the first step in then negotiating the next step in the path to complete annexation of us, as Indigenous Australians, the caretakers of this and its flora and fauna, and the totemic and symbolic importance these flora and fauna mean to us as a people, and our dreaming. I believe that a suitable treaty, one that recognises and accepts responsibility for the genocide that has occurred in the past, and is still happening in our communities now. A treaty that apologises for these wrongdoings and contractually obliges the state and federal governments to initiate schemes and programmes, passed through parliament and in legislative form, in thelaw of the land and states, policies and programs aimed at fixing and investigating the health -physical and psychological-, the high unemployment of Indigenous Australians, youth crime and substance abuse, domestic violence, and lack of housing and public facilities available to the Indigenous peoples of Australia. Wayan Sinclair Morgan.MA.,BA(Hons

11/2/2002 Non-Aboriginal Australians should not worry about a Treaty, but applaud and support such an idea. A Treaty will only strengthen Aboriginal non-Aboriginal relations and make this great country even better.

25/1/2002 I was born in Gubbi Gubbi country. I spent nine years in what was (according to the Tindale map) Barunggam country (not sure what was done to them). Went to high school in Geynyan country (Warwick, Queensland). Went to University in Yuggerah country. Now I've been living in Cadigal clan country, Eora and/or Dharug land for seventeen years. Can't speak the proper language of any of those places, just know a few odd words; half the placenames are beautiful and they're not English. I think we need a treaty - I don't know how Ruddock can manage to believe there was never a war when the map of Australia is littered with placenames like Battle Mountain, Battle Camp, Surprise Creek, Settlement Creek, Butchers Creek, Slaughterhouse Creek, Skull Creek, Waterloo Flat, Waterloo Bay, Fighting Hills...and the list goes on, from one end of the country to the other (and that's only from a large scale atlas that doesn't show all the local names. I think it's time we set things straight.
3/1/2002 As a father to GITHABAL children and a member of our family,i can see why we need a treaty.I say this as a white fella.There can never be anything to compensate for the years of segregation,rape,slaughter and disposition of land but a treaty will go along way to forming one nation of one people.But let us never forget the genocide that has happend so people will know and narrow minded rednecks just might show compassion and change their minds.
12/12/2001 What a great idea! should have happened sooner - 200 years sooner! Let us restore the dignity of the sovereign people on and in whose land we are priveledged to live: pay the rent, and have an agreement drawn up which recognises the wrongs of the past, individual and collective, and give all of us as a great nation a vision for the future, having healed the past. SORRY would have to be the first step for any treaty to have true meaning. I would like to see a bill of rights in this country recognising the many smaller groups of people who were totally disregarded when our constitution was written. All Power to TREATYNOW!!!!!!
8/11/2001 no body mentions white australians here... I for one like all the other white australians simply wish you would get on with you life. a treaty will not change anything, people are not simply going to wake up the next day and say and feel any different. the black community are constantly voicing what they want from us...what about what we will get in return, I feel we will more of the same, not to mention a big lawsuit. Where did you find 53% who support this, last I saw it was about 26%. treaty or not, this is not at all going to change me or my ways. I don't like nor dislike aboriginals, though i'm rapidly heading on a one way trip towards dislike, the more i see and hear about this treaty. i know some great black people, nice people, funny, loving and good hearted, maybe you should ask these how they manage to be normal... one thing i believe in strongly though, is that these aboriginals won't choose sides. they want the life of their ancestors and the money and fine life of white people, at taxpayers expense. this is why the white people of australia dislike you. when you see this, the treaty ned will disipate... i have nothing to be sorry about ! I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS COMMENT WILL BE SHOWED, AS IT IS THE ONLY ONE AGAINST A TREATY .........hhhmmmm FUNNY ABOUT THAT.
4/11/2001 I believe a treaty as proposed in the Treaty documents will go a long way towards making Australia a world leader.
5/10/2001 Many nations, many agreements through constitutional recognition.
11/9/2001 Australia needs a treaty for it's original inhabitants. Australia is not keeping up with the progress of international countries in providing a 'just society'. The current government does not seem to care about what the rest of the world thinks about Australia.

30/8/2001 We need a treaty now.
18/7/2001 Treaty yeah BUT what about J.H. if he cant say sorry then what is this treaty going to do? and im so angry about our nations past? OH YES the past because i cant beleive what my elders had to put up with back then and when they tell me stories of what had happened to them how they were treated gees im getting second thoughts on this treaty thing. BUT Im young I am only 21 and yes i am also Aboriginal. AND I AM DEFINATELY NOT GOING TO SAY NO TO SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR ALL GENERATION'S EVEN THE PAST BUT ESPECIALLY FOR THE FUTURE SO YOU CAN COUNT ON ME. TREATY YEAH TREATY YEAH
14/7/2001 Its good to see our peolpe standing up for our rights, and showing others how we feel about the Treaty situation. I'm proud to be an Aboriginal, and so should all other indigenous people.
13/7/2001 tena koutou tena koutou katoa i am a Maori woman and have lived in sydney for the last 20 years - much respect to the first peoples of this land. speaking as a Maori woman, I feel that a treaty is a vital step to redressing the injustices put upon the first people's here in australia. tho a contentious document it has definitely resulted in some positive things for Maori people and it is my hope that it does the same thing for indigenous people here. Kia kaha (stay strong)
11/7/2001 How come this took so long to happen ??
10/7/2001 I really support this year's theme, because a United Nation is a STRONG Nation.
9/7/2001 A Treaty that works will be great but we must make sure that the Treaty is not used to take away Aboriginal rights. We will only get one chance so it's very important that we get it right.
9/7/2001 I can't wait to be a part of this treaty process. Lets move forward as a nation and not let politition get in the way. They represent us! Each night say a prey. "Treaty". Our ancesters are listening.
3/7/2001 I am all for a Treaty and Reconciliation, I see them both as just as important in defining who and what this great nation of Australia is, as our involvement in the World Wars. What I don't agree with is comments like the one below stating that "Indigenous Australians are more Australian than the whole of Australia’s white population put together". Comments like these are divisive bordering on racist and do nothing to advance the very important issues of Reconciliation and Treaty. The people must be in one voice if we are going to be successful. Thanks

24/6/2001 I was born in England and migrated to Australia as a ten pound Pom in 1949. I was three years old at the time. I have a bit of paper that says I am an Australian citizen, and I am proud to be one. I am not proud of the historical treatment which my forebears inflicted upon the original inhabitants, and I see a treaty as a symbolic means for all who have arrived here from other shores or have descended from immigrants arriving since 1787 for us to acknowledge the original illegal immigration into Australia as an act of invasion and land stealing. But let us do more, and start paying the rent!!!
21/6/2001 Contemporary Australia is a great place to live, but the injustices to our indigenous people in the past is so shameful. I think we can show our love for our indigenous people and for the richness they give to this country through a treaty. We are so lucky to have such a unique, ancient culture, peace loving people who were great land managers.

29/5/2001 I would feel proud to have a treaty, as a Murri it makes me feel that I have recognition of my ancestry and have equal footing with 'migaloos'to make any decisions that affect life here in Australia
22/5/2001 sign for a treaty
21/5/2001 Just a quick note. Firstly, what a terrific web-site! It is extraordinary. I have found some useful stimulus for an assignment I'm working on ( Treaty: A Proposed Model & Its Potential for Implementation). in which I'm looking at various, competing social / political / legal 'visions' etc. One thing is clear to me. The concept must be explored to its fullest extent and a treaty needs to be created, implemented and adhered to . . . that much is certain. But, be careful what you wish for as you just might get it. I would hate to see a treaty as a 'document' such as any other piece of legislation. Such a document might appease many as an object to behold. Remember the struggle for Native Title. It is here (in part), but Native Title, it can be argued, is the ultimate act of Colonialism . . .it tears families apart. A treaty, yes. An imperative. Just perhaps not as a piece of paper subject to the whims of politicians, the interpretations of the laywers and at the mercy of judicial consideration. It must be a living spirit. Good luck with it all. I hope my 'input' sparks a different level of cogniscence that remains with some affect. Yours Sincerely, Colin Duckworth. (Student at University of Queensland).

16/5/2001 Everybody should sign up for a treaty because they don't apologise for what they have done to this country. best wishes from Edward and Adam
16/5/2001 hi we need a treaty
16/5/2001 I'm a teacher in a school and where studying aboriginal heritige and we think everybody vote for Treaty.
11/5/2001 A treaty now will recognize that Indigenous people were sovereign people and are still sovereign people. We never ceded our sovereignty
11/5/2001 Truce B4 Treaty The war is still raging - no treaty can be negotiated without a truce cheers susanne martain Eora Country
11/5/2001 Go for it!
11/5/2001 Indiginous Australians are more Australian than the whole of Australias white population put together so why do we treat them like they are some second class citizens?
11/5/2001 Dear All, Burnum Burnum had an idea to have a reconciliation Party for Federal elections.(senate). I will be happy to work towards this goal. First step, 500 signatures to have a party registered, then candidates then election.
11/5/2001 Why wouldn't the Goverment want a treaty? Who in this world wouldn't want peace? I'm currently ashamed to be called australian.
11/5/2001 It's time to inaugurate a flood of light on "Treaty". Let's go back in respect to get it right, to go forward to success. The first Friday of the month throughout 2001 is "Treaty Night" outside your local government house - gather around your State/ Territory Vice-Regal domain, local council Town Hall, or area Court House, and walk with lighted candles for Treaty. Support the Adelaide Justice, Peace, Treaty and Bill of Rights Candle Light Walk from 7PM onwards on the First Friday of the Month. Get it Right - Human Rights ! Walking with lighted candles in unison around the country for Treaty will bring the past to light!
11/5/2001 Many Nations, Many SOVEREIGN Treaties
11/5/2001 It is time to stop the lies about the history of this country and for us to admit what really happened to the indigenous peoples and of course to say sorry and make amends
11/5/2001 Having a treaty is an important step towards Reconciliation. Without making an attempt to heal the wounds of the past how can we expect to move forward as a nation. The Howard government really needs think again regarding their policy because otherwise they will have three long years in opposition to mull it over.
11/5/2001 We need a treaty for all Australians to be able to move forward together. Let's make it happen now!!!
11/5/2001 Too many people sit back and say, "We need a treaty" and "reconcilliation is the key". It's so true and most Australians agree. But no-one is sure where to start. Show you really care, get out there and do something towards the cure. Go on, get out there, move Australia!
11/5/2001 I'LL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY JUST ONE THING AND THAT IS," BOUT TIME", KEMPSEY, NSW.
11/5/2001 We have exhausted our avenues of an "apology" at a Federal level perhaps a treaty may generate some degree of equity and consolidate future htmirations that benefit all Australians.
11/5/2001 We need a treaty as a next step to securing justice and sovereignty for all Australians. Bring it on!


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