Good morning, everyone.
I was very moved by the smoking ceremony earlier and by the wonderful Welcome to Country. It is a privilege to be on the traditional lands of the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples, who have a deep connection to Meanjin. I acknowledge their elders past and present.
Thank you for the warm welcome, and for the opportunity to join you today as we celebrate NAIDOC Week and reflect on this year's theme,"50 Years of Deadly."
50 years! Where were you 50 years ago? 1976.
Gough Whitlam’s dismissal was the year prior, having only a few months before returned traditional lands in the Northern Territory to the Gurindji people. The moment was famously captured on camera of Gough pouring sand into the hands of Vincent Lingiari.
1976 was also the year the Australian federal parliament passed the landmark Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976. It was the first legislation in Australia that legally recognised First Nations land ownership and enabled Aboriginal peoples to claim rights to Country where traditional ownership could be proven.
There was still more to come, in 1976 Eddie Mabo was studying in Townsville at JCU.
In 1976, we were still 16 years away from the Mabo Decision (1992) and 32 years before the National Apology in 2008.
Through these decades, and in every year since 1976, NAIDOC Week has been a time to pause, to reflect, and to recognise and celebrate the strength, resilience and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
"50 Years of Deadly" reminds us how far we've come, the protest, the pride, the promise.
We remember the extraordinary contributions of First Nations people over this time - the hard fought battles, the rallies, the stories, the leadership, language, art and so much more. We also acknowledge the contributions that continue to be made across every part of Australian life up to this very day. And this of course extends into our incredible tourism industry, including the First Nations leaders businesses in this room today.
First Nations tourism offers visitors something really special. It connects people to culture, Country and the stories that have been shared for tens of thousands of years.
Now, I will disclose I am a proud Queenslander – go Maroons! – but I think it’s fair to say our State offers some of the most special cultural experiences.
It’s where the Great Barrier Reef Sea Country meets the rainforest. We have the Quinkan Caves near Laura – with Aboriginal rock art dating back about 30,000 years. Mossman Gorge nestled in World Heritage Wet Tropics. The islands of the Torres Strait.
Now it’s really obvious I’m from Far North Queensland!
Queensland is also the only place where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures meet. We really do live in a special place.
Such experiences help visitors understand Australia in a deeper and more authentic way. It strengthens our understanding of who we are as a nation, and showcases the richness and diversity of Indigenous cultures to the world.
And there is a once-in-a-generation opportunity upon us all - the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. Australia will play host to the world and to visitors who want to learn about our world’s oldest continuing cultures.
As Assistant Minister for Tourism, I look forward to working with you to ensure we are ready for this incredible moment in Queensland’s history. And that the visitor economy delivers for First Nations Australians too. We are working to support First Nations people, businesses and communities to take up new tourism, export and investment opportunities, including through the First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group announced last year and supporting the First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership.
Whether it be delivering record investment to double the number of Indigenous Rangers by the end of the decade; Leading the nomination of Murujuga to the UNESCO World Heritage list; Or empowering more Traditional Owners to care for Country and safeguard their cultural heritage through the establishment of new Indigenous Protected Areas across the country; we are firm in our commitment to partner with First Nations People to deliver meaningful change.
I am very much looking forward to hearing from the esteemed panellists shortly. There is some incredible talent in the room and the future is most certainly looking bright.
I’m not sure how many of us will be here in 50 years time, but I am very optimistic that the next generation of leaders at the “100 years of deadly” NAIDOC celebration will be reflecting on your achievements.
Thank you to QTIC for bringing everyone together for this important event.
I wish you all a wonderful NAIDOC Week.