Indigenous advocates have raised concerns about the Australian prime minister’s position on the establishment of a truth-telling commission.
Supporters of the Makarrata Commission are worried that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese may backtrack on his support for this Indigenous initiative.
The term “Makarrata” originates from the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart and denotes a process of truth-telling leading to a treaty between the Australian government and Indigenous communities.
This truth-telling process entails the creation of a commission to investigate historical injustices against Aboriginal Australians.
Last year, a referendum on another aspect of the Uluru Statement—establishing an Indigenous advisory body within the national parliament—was unsuccessful as suburban and regional voters largely rejected the proposal.
Speaking at the Northern Territory Garma Festival on Aug. 4, Prime Minister Albanese mentioned that the government was discussing the details of a Makarrata process but did not provide a clear path towards establishing a commission, which was a previous commitment made by the government.
Albanese’s remarks on ABC Insiders sparked concerns among Makarrata advocates, who felt that the leader was avoiding the issue.
While Albanese expressed support for truth-telling, he did not fully commit to the Makarrata Commission when pressed for clarification.
Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy assured on Aug. 5 that the government remained dedicated to enhancing outcomes for Indigenous peoples.
Uluru co-chair Pat Anderson and Indigenous rights campaigner Dean Parkin criticized the perceived lack of commitment to Makarrata, emphasizing the importance of upholding the promises made in the Uluru Statement.
Albanese reiterated that the federal government had not outlined a pathway to a treaty before the October referendum and that treaty processes were being carried out at the state and territory levels.
He stressed the significance of national unity and reconciliation with history for Australia’s reputation both domestically and internationally.
Can you please rewrite this sentence?
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