Mrs GALLUS (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs) (4:53 PM) —I acknowledge the comments of the previous speaker, the member for Canberra, and her recognition of the need for practical reconciliation and the importance of addressing the disadvantage experienced by a large number of Australia's disadvantaged people. Reconciliation Place will be a site to honour the importance of reconciliation in this nation's life and a place that will continue to develop with Australians as we grow together. It will acknowledge the history of this nation's first people and also our shared history. This is a history that has not always been positive and a history that contains elements of which we cannot be proud.

Reconciliation Place will recognise the significant contributions made to this country by the indigenous people that have helped to shape this nation's identity. I hope that for many Australians, particularly indigenous Australians, this will be a place that begins the process of healing the hurts of the past. As previously stated by the Prime Minister, Reconciliation Place, located as it will be in the heart of the parliamentary triangle, both physically and symbolically will signify the importance that the government places on the process of reconciliation. Reconciliation Place will be a place to celebrate the efforts and contributions by everyday Australians to the reconciliation process. It will be a place to encourage people to join the process so they can better understand the history and the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

I would also like to acknowledge the role played by women in the process of reconciliation and their contribution to the stories that will make up Reconciliation Place. The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation found that all women, both indigenous and non-indigenous, play an enormous role in working to keep their families and communities strong. The council consulted with many women's organisations and found that there was a great similarity of views regarding the reconciliation process. There was also a strong view that it was women who played a major role in nurturing and healing our society. Their efforts to keep communities together and the reconciliation process a part of our everyday lives needs to be acknowledged.

While Reconciliation Place will play an important role in the ongoing process of reconciliation, achieving reconciliation requires a universal effort across all levels of government and by all sectors of the community. The government is strongly committed to the process of reconciliation and to implementing both symbolic and more practical measures to ensure that the reconciliation process continues. We must accept that there will be times when we will disagree on the process or even on issues, but understanding and accepting another point of view is what reconciliation is often about. What is undisputed is that we are all heading in the same direction and that the more committed we are to reconciliation the nearer our destination. Reconciliation can be viewed as a long road: looking forward we may think we have a long way to go, but by looking back we know we have come a long way. It is a powerful force for good and has the potential to make us a stronger nation.

I am sorry today to see that the shadow minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs is not here, because I would have appreciated hearing his comments and support for the concept and the reality of Reconciliation Place. In concluding, Reconciliation Place is not the beginning of the process but part of an ongoing commitment by this government to ensuring reconciliation continues to be an integral part of Australian life.