Gladstone Region Councillor and Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Reference Group Co Chair Natalia Muszkat raised a Notice of Motion regarding the Uluru Statement from the Heart at the 20 July meeting.

Cr Muszkat’s Notice of Motion was endorsed by Gladstone Region councillors and included –

That the Gladstone Regional Council continues to demonstrate strong leadership in support of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people by undertaking a range of actions such as:

1. Supporting the Uluru Statement from the Heart which calls on the Australian people to walk with First Nations in a people’s movement for Voice, Treaty, Truth;
2. By endorsing the Uluru Statement and sharing this support by publicly displaying the Uluru Statement and displaying posters and other material in prominent locations throughout the Gladstone Region;
3. Registering Council’s support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart on the website (ulurustatement.org)
4. Writing to the current Prime Minister, the Federal Leader of the Opposition and local candidates in the next federal election for the Flynn electorate, to express Gladstone Regional Council’s support for the Constitutional Recognition for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people and the key principles of the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’ and encouraging action to establish a First Nations voice to Parliament protected by the Constitution and a Makarrata Commission to supervise agreement-making (treaty) and truth-telling.

“The Uluru Statement from the Heart is an invitation to the Australian people, from First Nation Australians. It asks us to support a First Nations voice in the Constitution and begin our journey to a better Australia,” Cr Muszkat said.

Cr Muszkat said Gladstone Regional Council remains committed to walking together and advancing reconciliation.

“This is a proud moment on our reconciliation journey and aligns with the pillars of our Reconciliation Action Plan, launched in May 2018, and the work we have already undertaken as a business.

“As a Council, we’ve made our voice count to enable a First Nations voice to be heard and we support a First Nations voice to Parliament protected by the Constitution.

“We are a proud Council that truly values inclusiveness and equality and while the Uluru Statement from the Heart has been adopted state-wide by the Local Government Association of Queensland, and nationally by the Australian Local Government Association, it is wonderful to have it adopted at a local level.

“Gladstone Regional Council invites everyone in the Gladstone Region – home of the Byellee (Bailai), Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng and Taribelang Bunda people – to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.”

Please visit www.ulurustatement.org to read the Uluru Statement from the Heart and www.gladstone.qld.gov.au/reconciliation-action-plan to learn more about Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan, currently in the ‘Innovate’ phase.

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