09 July 2013

Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs Launches NAIDOC Week 2013 for the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby

Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Senator Matt Thistlethwaite, today launched NAIDOC week 2013 for the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby. NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year’s NAIDOC week proudly celebrates the 50th anniversary of the presentation of the Yirrkala Bark Petitions to the Australian Federal Parliament. In August 1963, the Yolngu people of Yirrkala in northeast
Arnhem Land sent two bark petitions to the Australian House of Representatives. The petitions sought the recognition by the Australian Parliament of the Yolngu peoples’ traditional rights and ownership of their lands and were the first traditional documents recognised by the Commonwealth Parliament.

Speaking at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby, Senator Thistlethwaite said “We value the foresight, strength and determination of the Yolngu people whose actions set in motion landmark reforms for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”.

“This year marks five years since Prime Minister Rudd issued a National Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples, with specific reference to the Stolen Generations. I am proud that, in March 2013, the Australian Government passed an Act of Recognition with unanimous support through both houses of Parliament – an important step towards achieving constitutional change to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

To celebrate this year’s NAIDOC week, the Australian High Commission is pleased to work with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Kundu 2 television service to showcase a series of Australian films, including the internationally acclaimed The Sapphires.