MEDIA RELEASE
Rev Nile Pays Tribute to Aboriginal Community
Friday, 4th June 2010
The Rev Fred Nile MLC, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party, paid tribute to the Aboriginal Community during a parliamentary speech on ‘National Reconciliation Week'.
"I am pleased to support National Reconciliation Week, which is celebrated from 27 May to 3 June 2010. This week focuses upon the rich culture and history of the first Australians. It is timely for us to reflect on the importance of the ongoing reconciliation process, which I am pleased to be part of. In 1933 the combined Christian churches commenced a Week of Prayer for Reconciliation, and in 1996 the event was expanded to become National Reconciliation Week-a week to provide a nationwide focus for all reconciliation activities. A number of events, which are advertised in the media, are held during this week", said Rev Fred Nile.
"As members are aware, 27 May marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum when more than 90 per cent of Australians voted to remove the clauses from the Australian Constitution that discriminated against indigenous Australians. The referendum also gave the Commonwealth Government the power to make laws on behalf of Aboriginal people. Until that time, matters regarding Aboriginal people came under the power of the State governments. Various State government departments were responsible for the needs of Aboriginal people. This was not because the Commonwealth Government did not want the responsibility or responsibility had been taken away from it but because of the way our nation had developed. Australia was made up of States from 1778 to 1901, and the Commonwealth was a relatively new arrival. That is the reason for the distinction as to who administered the law for Aboriginal people.
Also, 3 June marks the anniversary of the High Court judgement in the 1992 Mabo case. This decision recognised the native title rights of the Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders as the original inhabitants of the continent and overturned the previous premise of terra nullius-that is, that the continent was empty or unowned before the arrival of Europeans. Of course, the nation was not empty. When Captain Cook arrived he met with Aboriginal people, as did the First Fleet. They were aware that Aboriginal people were living on the continent. People from other nations ask why no attempt was made to sign a treaty with the Aboriginal people or to seek their permission. Who would the Europeans have asked? Although the Aboriginal people had a clan or tribal structure, they did not have a political structure as recognised by Europeans. There was no national Aboriginal government to negotiate with. I believe that posed a practical problem. On my reading of the history of the early colony, Governor Phillip and his successors afforded the Aboriginal people recognition. They treated them with respect and according to the law. There was not one law for white people and another for Aboriginal people. A white man who killed an Aboriginal person would be hanged. I do not believe that would have happened in the colonies of other nations, such as France and Spain, where the native people were considered to be lower than Europeans.
In speaking to this motion on National Reconciliation Week, I pay tribute to a number of Aboriginal leaders whom I know who have worked very hard to promote reconciliation. Whilst many non-indigenous Australians work hard to promote reconciliation, it must be noted that many Aboriginal leaders also labour very hard to promote genuine reconciliation. Some of them have good reason to have hatred in their hearts and to carry a grudge because of the way they or their ancestors have been treated. The people I know, who are Christians, have forgiven the Europeans for the way they treated the Aboriginal people. They have reached out their hand in a genuine act of friendship and reconciliation. It is important to acknowledge that it is a two-way action.
A group of Aboriginal people with whom I have been associated since 1983 belongs to the Muli Muli Aboriginal community, which is an Aboriginal village north of Kyogle near the Queensland border. Hundreds of Aboriginal people live in this village. Over the years, with State and Federal assistance, they have replaced old, ramshackle buildings with modern, design-built, brick houses. I have stayed in some of these houses. They are well built and of high quality and meet the needs of the Aboriginal people. I am pleased that they have been able to secure this type of accommodation. A unique aspect of this village is that it is a Christian village. I do not claim that everyone in the community is a dedicated Christian, but I understand that the majority are. This fact is reflected in the atmosphere of the village and the way in which the people care for it. There are no wrecked cars or rubbish lying around and the grounds are well maintained. At the back of the village is a well cared for cemetery, where some of the older people are buried.
Beyond the cemetery are two or three large piles of beer cans. The beer cans have been left as a memorial to past activities. At one stage the community had serious problems with alcohol consumption, which led to violence, the destruction of homes and the burning down of the community centre. But because of their Christian faith and through God's grace, the whole community has changed. The people keep the beer cans to remind them of the bad times. Now no alcohol is allowed in the community. It is a dry community, and I believe that is one of the reasons for its success. The community also discourages cigarette smoking. However, on my visits I have noticed some people still puffing away.
Following the referendum in 1967, Aboriginal people were included in the census. I am pleased to note that the census showed that 67 per cent of Aboriginal people claimed they were Christians. That was more than the non-indigenous population, of whom 63 per cent said they were Christians. That is a tribute to the pioneering missionaries who, in the early stages of the establishment of the British colony, endeavoured to minister to the Aboriginal people and to share with them the Gospel and the Christian faith. Their efforts were successful. Obviously changes also occurred in later generations, but the first missionaries had a great impact. In the centre of the Muli Muli village is a Christian church. It is not labelled Baptist, Methodist or Presbyterian; it is a church for all Christians. The long-serving pastor of the church, who died about two years ago, was Pastor Francis Bundock. Pastor Bundock gave leadership to the church and also acted as a de facto mayor, helping to resolve disputes in the community. Since his death, the community has accepted his wife, Lola Bundock, as the Christian leader of the community.
In the late 1980s the Muli Muli Aboriginal community told me that the people would like to share their faith and spread the message of reconciliation. I arranged to tour with a community group around New South Wales, particularly to country towns. Two buses and accommodation were arranged, and we travelled from town to town for some months. At each service I would accept a welcome from the local church or minister and then hand over to the Aboriginal pastors, who would preach. The highlight of the service was the Muli Muli Ladies Christian Choir. They came onto the platform dressed in dazzling white dresses, representing purity, with a red shawl around their shoulders, representing the blood of Christ.
They had a very sincere faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. On one occasion we held a march through the city streets to promote reconciliation. The march was led by some of the Aboriginal pastors and there was a large banner depicting a map of Australia with a black hand and a white hand clasped together. I am pleased to pay tribute today to those Aboriginal Christian leaders, including Pastor Francis Bundock, Pastor Peter Walker, Pastor Bob Brown and Pastor Bill Bird. A few years ago Pastor Bill Bird took me to the site of the Myall Creek massacre and shared with me the background to what happened on that occasion. A simple cross has been erected at the site in memory of the Aboriginal people who died there-mainly women and children massacred by a group of white stockmen.
I also pay tribute to the Redeemer Baptist Church, which organised students from the Redeemer Baptist School to go to Muli Muli for nearly two weeks on a working party to help paint and update the church. The church was not falling down but the working party carried out a lot of improvements and painted it to make it look like a new church. I am very pleased they were able to do that. It was a genuine practical act of reconciliation that the Aboriginal people greatly appreciated. I am very pleased to support this motion", Rev Nile stated.