By Syed Atiq ul Hassan, Sydney
Today, I received ‘Senior Citizen of the Year Award’ from the Parramatta City Council – thanks to Parramatta City Council as this has been an honour for me. The event was started with a traditional aborigines’ dance by an indigenous Australian. During the whole time of that dance my mind couldn’t disregard the demand of those who we call traditional owner of this land – The indigenous Australians. Now should we call them traditional owner or real owner this is another issue, but their demand still stands that this Australia Day should be remembered as Invasion Day not the Australia Day.
Today, these indigenous Australians are the most disadvantaged people in Australia. Having a life expectancy 17 year below the rest of the Australia and with many living in third world conditions they are needed the reformation in every walk of life. According to a report of the World Health Organisation, the healthcare standards for aborigines are a century behind than the rest of Australia. In some parts of the country the life expectancy of male aborigines is just 33 years. Lack of education, job opportunities and other social facilities the crimes and gun culture have been increased in aboriginal community. Child abuse, rape and lootings are common crimes in remote areas. The law and order situation in remote areas are terrible.
Therefore, the indigenous Australians see the ‘Australia Day’ as foundation day of the demolition of their culture and generation and they observed the day as the ‘Invasion Day’ or ‘Day of Mourning’.
In May 1995, The National inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families was established which was chaired by Sir Ronald Wilson. In May 1997, a report on the Stolen Generations, Bringing Them Home, stemming from the inquiry chaired by Sir Ronald Wilson and was tabled in the Parliament. Exactly after a year, in May 1998, the first national Sorry Day was held to mark the anniversary of the stolen children report. In February 2000, the former Prime Minister, John Howard abandoned the deadline on reconciliation to be achieved by the eve of federation celebration. Indigenous leaders, community groups and human rights organizations raised the issue on different platforms, seminars, demonstrations. Yet, government of John Howard and his Liberal Party totally refused to offer ‘sorry’ to indigenous Australians. Mr. Howard’s plea was that firstly, whatever done to the indigenous people in the past was done by pasts governments and should not be liable to the present government and generation and secondly the apology or sorry could open the door to expensive compensation claims.
Then another former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd kicked off with great courage and daring steps during then federal election when he promised to the nation that he would say sorry to the indigenous Australians on all the mistreatments and wrong-doings happened to them if he formed the government. And the day came, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, on February 12, 2008 laid down a new tradition in the Australian Federal Parliament by ceremonial welcoming from indigenous Australians for the first time in over century old history. He was handed a message stick which told ‘the story of our coming together’. More than 100 indigenous elders, women and youth invited to start the proceeding of a new government with a new image of Australia. The ceremony combined ancient indigenous dances, music, song with more modern dance and performance. Then the next day is the day for which the indigenous Australians were waiting for decades. On February 13, 2008, Mr. Minister Kevin Rudd added a new page in the Australian history. He, on behalf of all Australians and the government, said ‘Sorry’ to the first Australians (Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders) on all the mistreatments and wrong doing particularly to the stolen generation (who were forcibly removed children from their parents during) for over 200 years. Mr. Kevin Rudd said that the Australian now reflect the blemished chapter in our nation’s history with the true spirit of reconciliation.
Today, the indigenous Australians must be feeling more close and equal to every other Australians. However, the word sorry is not enough but it has opened the doors for the reconciliation and work together. The aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders need confidence and faith on the government that new projects are to improve their lives and protect their culture and heritage. There is also high need of focusing on development programs for youth on priority.
Saying sorry to the indigenous Australian, definitely delivered a message to every Australian – a message of openness, acceptance and respect for everyone. We Australians are the mixture of more than 160 nationalities, this is the responsibility of every Australian to accept every other Australian and show our unity as one nation. For me this is the true Australia Day and the Australian nation should observe this day in every coming year as a National Day. Nevertheless, I respect the demand for the indigenous Australians as the truth is they are the real owner of the land from thousand years.
(The writer is Sydney-based journalist and a foreign correspondent, he is the winner of Senior Citizen of the Year Award 2018 from Parramatta City Council).
