Reconciliation Australia welcomes first Aboriginal MP to House of Representatives
Media Release – 31 August 2010
Reconciliation Australia’s new Chief Executive Leah Armstrong has welcomed the first Aboriginal person elected to the lower house of Australian Parliament as another great step forward for reconciliation.
Following Ken Wyatt’s weekend declaration of the West Australian seat of Hasluck, Ms Armstrong said this was an important milestone for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
"I’m proud to congratulate Ken Wyatt on being the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the House of Representatives and I look forward to welcoming him to Canberra when Parliament resumes," Ms Armstrong said.
"Ken has extensive experience in health and education and he is committed to working towards achieving better outcomes for Indigenous Australians and the broader society—and I am sure he will be a great representative for the people of Hasluck and all of their interests.
"It has been concerning to see reports of racial intolerance emerge in the seat since the election and I urge all Australians to work together to stamp out any kind of racist behaviour.
"It is also timely to note that the United Nation’s committee on the Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination report, released late last week, drew particular attention to the multiple forms of discrimination experienced by some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
"Yes, Australia is doing great things in many respects but we can’t be complacent—there are clearly actions that must be taken to move our country forward towards lasting reconciliation," Ms Armstrong said.
While Mr Wyatt is the first Indigenous member of the federal lower house, Ms Armstrong also acknowledged the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been elected to State and Territory parliaments and local government.
"Indigenous people have rich and unique perspectives to contribute to Australian society and have a vital role to play across many sectors of our community," Ms Armstrong said.
Media Contact: Kylie Thompson, 0418 633 277 or kylie.thompson@reconciliation.org.au
