29th August 2002

ANTaR Communiqué from the National Treaty Conference

Australian governments must act in response to the final recommendations of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. Particularly they must endorse and support the emerging national dialogue on an agreement or Treaty between Indigenous and other Australians.

The National Treaty Conference which concludes today in Canberra, has brought new attention to this sorry failure by our governments since the end of the formal Reconciliation process nearly two years ago.

National ANTaR Chair, Phil Glendenning, said:

"Once again, we have Australian people themselves, black and white, coming together to do what needs to be done, while governments sit on their hands.

"Or worse, governments respond to our shared hope and purpose by injecting fear and playing wedge politics. The most bizarre example is fear that our coming together to find common ground and unity will somehow result in unspecified damage to Australia's social fabric. How can this be?

"Our governments need to recognise that Australians are a people who seek agreement, not discord; that Australia is a country with a powerful, existing culture of agreements; and that we do agreements well.

"In fact, most of Australia's economic activity is based on commercial agreements. Our industrial relations are based on workplace agreements, our state and territory budgets are based on Commonwealth/State funding agreements. Even our national Constitution is an agreement between the States. Agreements are very Australian.

"We already have literally hundreds of agreements with Indigenous people and communities.

How much reassurance do governments need about this before they will act?

"What is more, most of the issues which are likely to be considered as part of a national agreements process have already been the subject of successful, ad hoc local or regional agreements. What is lacking is the extension of these successes to a national scale. A national treaty or agreements process can achieve this.

"Australian society is ready and willing - we are determined - to support Indigenous Australians in their desire to take full responsibility for their lives and destinies. We will assist Indigenous Australians to develop and implement policies and decision-making powers over their lives.

"A national discussion about these issues and a process through which agreement can be reached are necessary components of the process of taking responsibility.

"Governments need to wake up to this quick smart."

Further information: Phil Glendenning 0149 013 758; or David Cooper 0418 486 310.