Protestors and members of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre will spend another night camped on Parliament Lawns in Hobart, demanding a meeting with the Premier.
The group is calling for progress on truth-telling and treaty negotiations, saying that the state government’s efforts have been inadequate.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff echoed their concerns in parliament on Wednesday, criticising the government’s lack of action.
“It’s been three years and there’s been no progress,” Woodruff said.
“18 months ago, the Tasmanian Aboriginal community sent Minister [for Aboriginal Affairs Roger] Jaensch a draft treaty bill they’d prepared. Still nothing.”
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he has “put on record” his willingness to engage and that his views are “well known”.
“With respect to me meeting with the people outside, we’ve reached out and, of course, I’m willing to engage, as I have been willing to engage with Tasmanian Aboriginal people, irrespective of their communities, over the course of the last few years,” he said.
Rockliff said he wants to see a “uniting pathway that stops the divisiveness” and that he believes Tasmanian Aboriginal communities should work together.
He pointed to the Aboriginal Advisory Board, established under Minister Jaensch’s leadership, which is progressing work on truth-telling and treaty negotiations.
“It’s important that it’s led by Aboriginal people. It’s important that we bring the entire Tasmanian community with us,” he said.
“What concerns me most … was that irrespective of one’s view of the voice referendum, we could all agree … that we need to do better when it comes to reducing those incarceration rates amongst Tasmanian Aboriginal people, ensuring that life expectancy is greater amongst Tasmanian Aboriginal people, focusing on educational attainment and, indeed, economic … when it comes to Tasmanian Aboriginal people.”
“And we can all unite on that and that is my focus forward when it comes to supporting Tasmanian Aboriginal communities and ensuring that we close the gap, literally, on all that unfortunate data.”
He said the government is working on setting up a meeting with those outside Parliament House, who have refused to leave until progress is made.
