Asian Women at Work focus group participants, Sydney, December 2007.

Adelaide Community Consultation, Elizabeth Broderick with Michelle Hogan (Safe Work SA), November 2007.

YWCA young women’s focus group participants, Adelaide, November 2007.

Today I am proud to be part of a country that has finally listened to the stories of thousands of Indigenous people who told us about their horrific experiences of being separated from their families. As a mother, I can only start to imagine the nightmare of having your child taken from you. I can only start to imagine the grief, the loss and the pain that continues across communities and generations for many years. For the injustices of the past, I would like to convey my heartfelt sorrow to members of the Stolen Generations, and pay my deepest respects to you for your determination and resilience.

In my meetings with Indigenous women and men as part of my Listening Tour, I have heard many stories of  prejudice and discrimination. I have heard about the difficulty in accessing appropriate services and frustrations with governments who consult but don’t listen. I have heard of struggles to get jobs, and struggles to be heard. I have heard about racism, and pre-judgment that continues to be a shared experience amongst Indigenous Australians.

It is my hope that today is the start of a new era where we not only hear the stories and experiences of Indigenous people, but as a nation we listen. Because it is only when we listen that we learn. And when we learn, we begin to understand.  I am looking forward to my upcoming visits to Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland where I will continue to spend some time listening to Indigenous communities.

Today I would also like to acknowledge the hard work and determination of my colleague Tom Calma, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.  I am humbled and honoured to be his colleague.  Tom’s unit has produced a range of resources supporting the 1997 Bringing them home Report including the Us Taken-Away Kids, a magazine launched in late 2007 commemorating the 10th anniversary of the report. I highly recommend these to you. You can access them here [www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/bth_report/].

I encourage us all to listen, to learn and to understand.

Liz