11th Sep 2019, 4:22 PM – Senate Motions - Message Sticks Carried by Alwyn Doolan - Accept

The same number of senators voted for and against a motion introduced by WA Senator Rachel Siewert (Greens), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that Mr Alwyn Doolan carried 3 Message Sticks and the aspirations of many First Nations peoples for Treaty, Truth and Self-determination in a meaningful dialogue on a Voice on his 8,500 km journey from Cape York to Hobart to Canberra;

(b) recognises that the Message Sticks symbolise three stages of our country's story:

(i) the creation, dreaming and songlines that have governed our land for over 100,000 years,

(ii) the brutal years of colonisation, forced settlements and stolen generations, and

(iii) the healing to come together for a Makarrata with a Voice to create a new country where First Nations peoples' rights and cultural differences are valued in decision-making and constitutionally protected; and

(c) calls on the Prime Minister to accept the Message Sticks which represent an opportunity to reset the relationship between First Nations peoples and the Parliament.