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The long walk to reconciliation can�t jump stages Chairperson Dr Evelyn Scott and Deputy Chairperson Sir Gustav Nossal today thanked the Australian people for their tremendous show of support during Corroboree 2000 and at a wide range of other events around the country for National Reconciliation Week 2000 (NRW � 27 May to 3 June). At the same time they warned against misreading the meaning of the massive turnout in Sydney, and the strong support elsewhere, as support for agendas other than those which the Council itself had publicly promoted when it called the events. "These amazing and unprecedented outpourings show in the clearest possible way the people�s support for reconciliation in general, their broad goodwill, and their resolve to get on with it," Dr Scott and Sir Gustav said. "In particular, we take the turnouts as broad support for the symbolic and practical steps towards reconciliation set out by the Council in the documents it handed to the nation last weekend," they said. "These documents were discussed in draft form for months all around the country and the people were consulted about them. The events were called by this Council to hand over the final documents, celebrate the achievements of reconciliation so far, and outline the steps which still need to be taken along the reconciliation road," they said. "The People�s Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge last Sunday was an inspiring demonstration of the power of an idea whose time has come," Dr Scott said. "On Sunday the people�s voice spoke loud and clear to all the leaders of this nation as they walked together across that bridge in Sydney. They want a country where Aboriginal people, Torres Strait Islanders, and Australians from the wider community can live together in harmony and mutual respect," she said. "They want a country which lives out the ethos it proclaims of a fair go for all. They want a country where, in the words of the Council�s Australian Declaration Towards Reconciliation, �As we walk the journey of healing, one part of the nation apologises and expresses its sorrow and sincere regret for the injustices of the past, so the other part accepts the apologies and forgives�," she said. Ms Scott and Sir Gustav said that the people�s support for reconciliation was being demonstrated all over the country at walks, meetings and other events already held or planned for NRW in cities and towns both big and small. "All the messages and reports coming back to us show that people are not only turning out in large numbers, they are also asking what they can do practically to advance reconciliation in their communities, workplaces and institutions," Sir Gustav said. "They want to do something, they want to make a difference," he said. "This gives us great optimism that people will take up the challenges in the Council�s Roadmap for Reconciliation � to take practical actions which will make reconciliation a reality in the everyday life of the nation, and especially to help overcome the disadvantages which Indigenous people suffer in their everyday lives," he said. "Buoyed by the wonderful public support this week, the Council over the last six months of its lifetime will carry through the agenda it has outlined publicly before Corroboree 2000 and in its documents. This includes putting in place a process and framework for settling the "unfinished business" of reconciliation, including a legislative framework to allow for negotiated outcomes on matters such as rights, self-determination, traditional law and constitutional reform," Sir Gustav said. "We still have a long way to go to the goal of true reconciliation, and we have to take the people with us," Dr Scott said. "But in the last few days we have seen claims that Corroboree 2000 provided a mandate for more advanced ideas or proposals than were publicly promoted for the event. These are attempts to jump stages and will hurt rather than help take us forward," she said. "The Council has outlined a series of steps which can deliver social justice to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and could end with a formal settlement of the outstanding issues left to us by history, ever since the British Crown took this country from its original inhabitants," she said. "That might be called a Treaty or something else, but one thing�s for sure: it will only be called whatever the Australian people want it to be called. Use of the word �treaty� without broad public discussion and education about its possible mechanisms and content will only allow the enemies of reconciliation to obscure and confuse the issues," Dr Scott said. "Last Sunday about a quarter of a million Australians walked together for reconciliation. As we take further steps together, let�s make sure we keep and build on that support," she said. "I believe the Council�s agenda and documents can do that." CANBERRA 1 JUNE 2000
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