2nd reading speech Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Recognition (Sunset Extension) Bill 2015

Mr/Madam Acting/Deputy/President,
I rise to oppose the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Recognition (Sunset Extension) Bill 2015.
This Bill seeks to re-affirm three statements in legislation. I oppose
the Bill because I believe that these three statements should not be in
legislation.
The first statement is as follows:
The Parliament, on behalf of the people of Australia, recognises
that the continent and the islands now known as Australia were
first occupied by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This is conjecture. Archaeologists make extraordinary discoveries all
the time, and one of those discoveries could be that someone made it
to Australia before the Aborigines. Statements like this belong in
scholarly research, not legislation. Ever since the Enlightenment we
have accepted that questions of fact are resolved by evidence, not by
decree. You cant legislate a fact.
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The second statement is as follows:

The Parliament, on behalf of the people of Australia,
acknowledges the continuing relationship of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples with their traditional lands and
waters.
This is stereotyping. It is likely that some Aboriginal people do not
have a relationship with traditional lands and waters. What is the
Parliament doing to these people when it asserts that Aboriginal
peoples have such a relationship? It is denying their Aboriginality.
The third statement is as follows:
The Parliament, on behalf of the people of Australia,
acknowledges and respects the continuing cultures, languages
and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This is divisive. It is likely that some Australians do not respect the
cultures, languages or heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples. What is the Parliament doing to these people when
it asserts that the people of Australia respect Aboriginal cultures? It is
casting them as un-Australian.
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This Bill also seeks to reaffirm a commitment to a referendum on

constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples. Amongst other reasons, I oppose the Bill because I oppose
such a referendum and I oppose such constitutional recognition.
Each of us can feel that our ancestry is important, and each of us can
celebrate this ancestry in our own way. Some celebrate ancestors
who were here millennia ago, some celebrate ancestors who were on
the First Fleet, and some celebrate ancestors who came on a more
recent leaky boat. But no one persons ancestry is more important
than another persons.
The Liberal Democrats, and our sister party in the New South Wales
election the Outdoor Recreation Party have policies on many
issues, but we have no policies specific to Australias Aborigines and
Torres Strait Islanders. This is as it should be.
Every human being in Australia is a person, equal before the law.
Giving legal recognition to characteristics held by certain persons
particularly when those characteristics are inherent, like ancestry
represents a perverse sort of racism.
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Although it appears positive, it still singles some people out on the

basis of race.
This bill offends on many levels. It should not be approved.