Mr ANDERSON (Minister for Primary Industries and Energy)(4.11 p.m.) —I rise to support the remarks of the Prime Minister (Mr Howard) on this very important matter of Aboriginal reconciliation. A major step forward for the nation occurred on 27 May 1967 with the long overdue granting of full citizenship rights to indigenous people. It had been evolving for some time and had included developments that took place during the Menzies prime ministership. Indeed, it is a source of some pride on my own part that it was a relation of mine who in many ways spearheaded that campaign—one Jessie Street.

One of the reasons that it took a long time to evolve was that there were elements in our community who continued to espouse divisive and in some cases racist views, and held at bay those who had a more kindly and more rational outlook on these matters. But when, to gauge the true feelings of the Australian people, a referendum was held—as has been pointed out in this place, in fact, over the last few minutes—it emerged that there was overwhelming support, in fact in the order of 90 per cent, for the full citizenship rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

It is timely, 30 years on, to reflect upon that decision; to analyse the attitudinal and social changes that have occurred during that period; to measure where things are now; and, most importantly, to chart a positive course of action for the future. Interestingly, I believe that the attitudes of the Australian people have not changed very much over those years in this area. There is still the same level of real support for the rights and welfare of indigenous people, and there is still the same strong level of commitment for equality of opportunity. As Australians, we do indeed share a commitment for a fair go for everyone.

We are increasingly, I think, aware of, interested in and proud of the culture and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As a unified Australian community, we must seek to rise above those who talk endlessly about the problems, without attempting to find solutions. I for one would not pretend that there are easy solutions.

But I would say that one of the first steps is for people to adopt a more visibly tolerant attitude and commitment to, if you like, becoming personally more involved in improving the situation. I do not know whether this is right, but I recently heard that some 80 per cent of Australians have never actually personally spoken to an Aboriginal.

Indeed, in my own case, I found it very interesting recently to spend a night with the rural leadership training program, which is an outstanding course for young Australians, men and women, involved in leadership in rural Australia. These particular courses—and there have been four of them now—begin with an intensive few days in the Kimberleys where people camp out and hike along difficult route marches and what have you during the days; it is pretty character building stuff.

Having spent a day and an evening with the last intake, I found it very interesting to discover that they had learnt an enormous amount from the Aboriginal participant on the course and from the Aboriginal guide on the course who had shown them a lot of the things that were of significance to him and his people in that outback setting. In fact, there was a fellow in his mid-thirties from my electorate who, when I arrived on the scene, wanted to tell me that—and he said this in front of the Aboriginal participant and the Aboriginal guide—he had arrived on the course as a bigot and was leaving as somebody who was no longer a bigot. He had found that opportunity to interact and to work alongside—even survive alongside—Aboriginal people in an environment with which they are more familiar with than we are. It was a very interesting, illuminating and moving experience.

To restore the dignity and self-worth of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people will require goodwill from all Australians, a spirit of cooperation, a determination to take this nation forward as a unified country which respects individual differences. We need to ensure that there is a warm spread of goodwill rather than the fuelling of ugly fires of discontent. We need respect for human dignity and the right of all people to be treated fairly.

While I firmly believe that the great majority of citizens want that equality, to achieve it will still require a conscious change in the hearts, minds and actions of some Australians. We need to demonstrate that good old Australian spirit of pitching in and helping in a constructive manner. The solutions start with individuals and what they are prepared to do personally, especially in those urban settings in our country towns and in our major cities where some 90 per cent of modern indigenous people live. But there is an important role for government—and others have discussed this today—to provide the framework, the resources and, in some cases, the inspiration for positive change.

I want to limit myself to some remarks about activities in my own portfolio. I am taking a number of measures to attain a greater level of involvement and participation by indigenous people. For example, I have supported the establishment of a team of Aboriginal landcare facilitators to assist in sustainable land management activity. Many people feel that, with their affinity for the land, the Aboriginal people have a special role to play there. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are currently responsible for the management of some 16 per cent of Australia's land surface and comprise a significant percentage of the population of rural and regional communities.

I have also provided support for the establishment of a pilot market garden project in Gilgandra to enable young Aboriginal people to learn the necessary horticultural skills to grow vegetables and native foods. I am providing joint support with the Minister for Health and Family Services (Dr Wooldridge) in a pilot youth suicide prevention project for indigenous people in the Northern Territory, details of which will be announced at a later date.

I believe that there are many opportunities as a government to establish meaningful programs of worthwhile activities which will help give young people a sense of self-esteem as well as a sense of pride and purpose. I believe it is absolutely essential that we assist indigenous people to become economically empowered to move towards greater self-reliance and self-sufficiency, particularly in rural and regional areas.

Next week, the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (Senator Herron) and I will be jointly announcing a rural industry strategy which will help address the socioeconomic and environmental issues which impact on the development and sustainability of indigenous industries and enterprises.

Having made those few brief remarks about where I think there has perhaps been a lack of focus on where real improvements in relationships in our communities can be achieved—that is, at the level of the local community—I give my personal commitment to continue with efforts to further create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

I represent a large rural electorate. It has the fifth highest number of indigenous people of any electorate represented in this House. I understand the problems that we face in developing better outcomes and more harmonious relationships within and between rural communities in this area of concern, where in the final analysis real improvements in relationships must take place.

There are no easy answers. There are no easy solutions. In fairness to governments of all persuasions, if there had been, we would have found more of them. I seek to reaffirm my support and my party's support for the strongest efforts to be made to create a better future for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of this nation.