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Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has rejected Australia’s acceptance of Welcome to Country ceremonies, claiming that the “symbolic” practice ignores Indigenous communities.
The outspoken Country Liberals senator criticized the government for failing to deliver practical results that improve the lives of Indigenous Australians.
Senator Price said she was fed up with being “symbolically recognized,” explaining that First Nations people wanted to be recognized and respected for their character rather than their race.
“Across Australia, the reinvention of culture has brought us welcome to the land or recognition of the land… Personally, I’ve had enough of being recognized symbolically,” Ms Price wrote in an essay for The Australian on Friday.
“It would be much more dignified if we were recognized and respected as individuals in their own right, defined not simply by our racial heritage, but by the content of our character.”
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (pictured) said she was ‘more than fed up with symbolic recognition’ in Weclome to Country Ceremonies
The senator accused Labor of ignoring Indigenous peoples after alcohol bans were lifted in arid communities, despite warnings from the elderly, and of removing cashless debit cards, which helped families on welfare to feed their children.
She said lifting the alcohol ban resulted in a “plague” of alcoholism and alcohol-related violence, while the removal of cashless debit cards caused relatives to demand money for drugs and gambling.
“I couldn’t give two more appalling examples of legislation being pushed by leftist elites that is guaranteed to worsen the lives of indigenous peoples,” Senator Price wrote.
“At the same time, we spend days and weeks every year recognizing Aboriginal Australia in many ways – in symbolic gestures that fail to push the needle a micro-millimeter to improve the lives of the most marginalized in a genuine way. ‘
Senator Price accused the “left” of being more interested in “symbolism” than “outcomes” and said real change would take decades of hard work.
Symbolism is easy. Creating a symbol is a one-time act that does not require diligence and perseverance,” Price wrote.
“When it’s done, it’s done and you can move on to the next symbol of your virtue. Getting results is hard.
“There are no easy victories and achievement is not measured on the front page of a newspaper, but over years and decades of hard work.
Senator Price said the government was more interested in “symbolic gestures” and had failed to improve the lives of First Nations people (pictured Elder Raymond Weatherall holding a smoking ceremony in Sydney on Nov. 17)
Country Liberal Party senator argued that Indigenous peoples should be recognized and respected as individuals rather than ‘simply defined’ by racial heritage (pictured, protesters holding Aboriginal flag)
Senator Price also claimed that the Voice to Parliament referendum – a plan to introduce an advisory body on Indigenous affairs – was another symbolic gesture, which will drive a wedge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
“It is the same attitude we hear from platitudes of maternity declarations from our current Prime Minister,” Price wrote.
‘[Prime Minister Anthony Albanese]suggests, without any evidence, that a vote to parliament bestowed on us by the virtuous act of symbolic gesture by this government will make us stronger.
“This government has yet to demonstrate how this proposed Voice will deliver practical results and unite, rather than drive a wedge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia.”
It’s not the first time Senator Price has criticized the government for proposed plans for First Nations people.
In a tense confrontation at a Senate hearing on estimates on November 10, Senator Price debated with Secretary of State Penny Wong over a plan to appoint an ambassador to represent Australia’s Aboriginal people internationally.
Senator Price (left) previously criticized the Uluru Statement of the Heart – a plan to appoint an international Aboriginal ambassador. The senator told Secretary of State Penny Wong (right) that the idea of the role was “divisive”
Senator Price told Senator Wong that, as an Indigenous person, she found the idea of such a role “divisive.”
Senator Price also invoked Senator Wong’s Malaysian heritage while commenting on the Voice to Parliament, asking if she would accept that only 0.03 percent of the Asian community can make decisions that directly affect her life.
“I doubt that you would accept 0.03 percent of your Asian community for anything regarding decisions related to Australia’s Asian community, which rests on the same principle,” Senator Price said.
Senator Wong was visibly annoyed by the series of questions, but held her voice as she hit back.
“If you want to talk about my ethnicity and my origins, I am extremely proud and deeply grateful that the Australian people have chosen to put more people of different backgrounds in our parliament,” she said.
Senator Price argued that the Uluru Declaration of the Heart “should represent all of us,” but was drafted by some indigenous representatives.
Senator Wong announced the proposal in September, saying the ambassador will head an office of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and “advance the rights of First Nations worldwide.”
Senator Price (right) said the Uluru statement of the heart “should represent all of us” but was drafted by some indigenous representatives