Chris Minns speech and remarks on Australia Day at Wugulora Morning Ceremony -Barangaroo Reserve, Sydney
26 January,2024
I’d like to acknowledge Yvonne and Linda and David, and of course, the Governor, and particularly acknowledge the Gadigal people, the traditional owners of this land, and pay my respect to elders past and present.
Gadigal country is an appropriate place to begin our reflections on Australia Day.
In Port Jackson – as Arthur Phillip called it.
Or in the much older tongue of the Gadigal people – Warrane.
Standing here this morning, looking out on Sydney Harbour, we can picture what it looked like 236 years ago.
An ordinary day in the life of the Gadigal.
With women fishing in the canoes.
Men farming oysters and cockles by the shoreline.
Kids being cheeky with their parents.
An ordinary day, interrupted by an extraordinary arrival.
The Gadigal people couldn’t have known what those ships carried with them- convicts, who themselves were the victims of a brutal justice system.
But they must have sensed that something was coming.
Something large and powerful and, for them, world changing.
Today evokes different feelings for different communities across our state, particularly our First Nations people.
And we understand why that is.
1788 was not the first page of a new story, written on a blank page.
It was the latest chapter in an ancient story – 65,000 years old.
It’s only natural that Aboriginal people will mark today in their own personal ways.
Some with quiet thought and reflection. Others with their mob, their friends, family and community.
Others will make their voices heard, as Yvonne did so powerfully and forcefully this morning, as is their right.
But as this event shows, there’s also room for celebration today.
A celebration of Aboriginal history – proud and ongoing.
A celebration of Aboriginal culture – unbroken and resilient.
Being here today, what strikes me is the generosity of Indigenous people in sharing that culture with their fellow Australians.
Offering up that history as a gift, to all of us.
There’s been a noticeable sea change on these questions across even my lifetime.
As more and more Australians have come to appreciate Indigenous culture as a source of national strength.
And as more and more Aboriginal people have embraced their Indigenous heritage as matter of personal pride.
It’s a journey of national awakening, it’s been inspiring watch.
And we can’t let the transient nature of annual politics get in the way of this.
Young kids, proud to be Koori.
Men and women of all ages, proud be Aboriginal.
We know that Indigenous people continue to face disadvantages in life and it’s everyone’s responsibility to recommit to closing that gap.
But even in the face of these challenges – Indigenous Australians continue to achieve remarkable things.
Yesterday was the ten year anniversary of Adam Goodes, a legend of this town, as he was chosen as Australian of the Year.
As he said in his speech of that day:
‘I believe we are all connected, whether we like it or not.
We are all equal and the same in so many ways.
The ultimate reward is when all Australians see each other as equals and treat each other as equals’.
Goodes was a brave man, on and off the field.
And, of course he was right.
We’ve got everything to gain from national reconciliation and equality.
Everything to gain and nothing to lose.
It’s our great mission. And it’s also the opportunity of a great reward for our country.
A country that’s inclusive and respectful, free and fair.
A country united as a single people, WugulOra, one mob.
