Responding to misstatements about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians

Key Points:

• Most of us try to treat others the way we want to be treated, but for too long, Governments have denied Aboriginal people their basic rights and a fair go;
• Australia isn’t working for all, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;
• The way Governments – past and present – have treated and treat Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has created many barriers and obstacles; and
• Imagine if we had been dispossessed of land we had lived on for 80,000 years, and then told it had never been ours. Or imagine if we had been taken away from our parents – what would that do to us, our children and grandchildren?

Common Misstatements:

“Aboriginal people receive special treatments” Read our suggested response.

"The Uluru Statement is divisive...it wouldn't pass a referendum...an Indigenous Voice to Parliament would be like a third chamber of Parliament..." Read our suggested response. 

“We don’t need a treaty – a nation does not make a treaty with itself.” Read our suggested response. 

“We should all be celebrating Australia Day on 26 January.” Read our suggested response.