Member for Ginninderra

Member for Ginninderra

Dr Chris Bourke

Member for Ginninderra

Speech for the ACT Human Rights Commission’s Annual Art Award and the Launch of the Reconciliation Action Plan

Acknowledgements

  • VIP’s include hosts:

Dr Helen Watchirs, Commissioner for Human Rights and Discrimination,

Ms Mary Durkin Durkin, Commissioner for Health, Disability and Community, and

Mr Alasdair Roy, Commissioner for Children and Young People

  • MLAs: Meredith Hunter, MLA
  • MPs (none noted)
  • Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr Tasawan Khan
  • Mrs Agnes O’Shea – Ngunnawal Elder

I wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we are meeting on, the Ngunnawal people. I acknowledge and cherish their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

It is very important to acknowledge country.

Firstly - it’s about truth telling when so many lies have been told in the past.

Secondly – it is about respect, respect for the traditional owners and, in the case of “welcome to countrys”, respect from the traditional owners.

Thirdly – it’s about the future, how Canberrans can learn from their knowledge of how to live in this land of rivers, mountains and plains.

I am pleased to be here today to open this exhibition on behalf of the ChiefMinister who unfortunately couldn’t be with us this afternoon.

I commend the ACT Human Rights Commission which has been runningthis award for young people each year since 2005. This award engages young people in thinking about the world around them, encourages them to take part in it, and shows that their perspective is valuable and can make a real impression on the community we all live in.

As you can see from looking around you, this year’s theme, “Celebrating Cultural Diversity and Ending Racism” inspired quite a number of young people in Canberra and they have responded by creating artwork that expressed their ideas around this theme in very creative ways.

I would like to congratulate the contributing artists on their thoughtful and sensitive works. I imagine it would have been very difficult for the Commissioners to choose the award winning works from so many quality submissions.

Each of these works is an intelligent and inspiring interpretation of very important social themes. It is wonderful to be able to see young people’s views and perspectives regarding some of the bigger picture social issues challenging our community, mediated through the vehicle of creative expression.

These works are benefitted further by the excellent exhibition space here at the Belconnen Arts Centre.

Opportunities like thisAward create enhanced arts experiences for young artists and audiences alike, and I think that you will agree that the world brought to life for us in this exhibition on display today is one that is incredibly encouraging.

Inspiring young people to be deep thinkers and to express themselves creatively makes our community a much richer place. I’m excited to see the potential in all of these individuals, many of them exhibiting publically for the first time. It is particularly poignant to think that the authors of all of these works executed with such positivity, scope and imagination may also be the artists and thinkers that help to guide our society into the future.

Based on the visions provided by these young people, I am hopeful about that future.

I also commend the ACT Human Rights Commissionon developing its inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan. I see that the cover of the Reconciliation Action Plan depicts one of the beautiful pieces of artwork here tonight. The artist, Regan Howsan, must be very proud and I would like to congratulate him on his achievement.

The Commission has taken an immense step in developing a plan that encourages understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and values cultural diversity. But more than that, it aims to be a model for action.

Working collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the goal of understanding, respecting and encouraging the human rights of our local communities, the framework has measurable targets for actions, and allows for growth through evaluation and consultation.

I can see that the Commission’s core values of Fairness and Independence, Respect and Dignity, Accessibility and Responsiveness and Learning and Achievement have informed their approach to this useful tool for building a strong, healthy and empowered community.

Once again I commend the ACT Human Rights Commission on its Plan, and I congratulate all of the artists for participating in the exhibition tonight.

I would like to thank the ACT Human Rights Commission for inviting me to speak today, and thank the Belconnen Arts Centre staff for their hard work in hosting this wonderful exhibition.

It is my great pleasure to launch the Reconciliation Action Planand to declare this exhibition open.

ENDS

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