“The Hon Linda Burney MP and Senator Malarndirri McCarthy as Minister and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians respectively, and Senator Patrick Dodson as Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement, bring decades of political experience to the government; a level of political and cultural expertise never before seen at our highest levels of leadership,” Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine said. 

“It’s a clear acknowledgement of the scale of work ahead, both in terms of the implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the need to embed principles of reconciliation and justice within the Australian political system. 

“Senator Dodson is known as the father of reconciliation through his work as the inaugural Chair of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation when he steered the reconciliation process through complex and turbulent waters in its early years. 

“The increased number of First Nations people across the new parliament brings us hope for brave action and Reconciliation Australia looks forward to working with them to help move these agendas forwards 

“Reconciliation has always had multi-party support across parliaments and this support must continue.

“We look forward to working with all sides of parliament to progress reconciliation in this term of parliament and beyond.  

“Progress on reconciliation is what will bond our country together and set the foundation for a more just and equitable nation.”