Since then, however, progress has been painfully slow and today comes with mixed emotions for many First Nations men and women across this land. The defeat of The Voice Referendum and, more recently, the release of a report highlighting the slow progress of Closing the Gap policies, should weigh heavily on all Australians. Disadvantage and lack of progress against the basic measures of the Closing The Gap strategy is not only a failure of policy but a stain on our record as a nation. We stand in solidarity with our First Nations brothers and sisters on this important day and hope that we can learn from our past to build a better future.