15th December 2001

'Reconciliation Place' heading for disaster

Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) today called on the Federal Government to halt construction of Reconciliation Place pending appropriate consultation with Indigenous people, particularly members of the stolen generations.

"Phillip Ruddock has to step in now to avoid Reconciliation Place becoming a monument to the further exclusion and marginalisation of Indigenous people, rather than a symbol of national reconciliation", ANTaR National President, Phil Glendenning, said today.

ANTaR's call follows widespread criticism of the Government's consultation process over the design and construction of Reconciliation Place, culminating in a protest today organised by Link Up (NSW) and the National Sorry Day Committee at the Reconciliation Place construction site in Canberra.

The main target of the protest is the proposed 'sliver' commemorating the stolen generations. The 'sliver' features images and sounds of children playing happily, and was designed without any consultation with stolen generation members.

"Not only does the sliver present a sanitised version of the experiences of stolen generations children, but it neglects the central principle of the reconciliation process - that Indigenous people must be equal partners in defining the agenda of reconciliation and in finding and implementing solutions", Mr Glendenning said.

"To leave Indigenous people out of the agenda is a recipe for disaster", Mr Glendenning said.

"It's as if the government has abandoned any pretence at taking reconciliation seriously. It just wants to impose its own agenda and its own version of history on the nation regardless of the consequences" Mr Glendenning concluded.

ANTaR strongly urges the government to heed the concerns over Reconciliation Place and move to put the reconciliation process back on the rails.

For More Information:
Phil Glendenning 0419 013 758
David Cooper 02 9555 6138