# State of Reconciliation in Australia #socialjustice See Also ⇒ [[RAI'S NOTES/Society & Culture/🗣️ Indigenous Issues in Australia]] After the failure of the recent referendum in Australia seeking to enshrine an indigenous voice to parliament in our Constitution, news reports stated that the Government would now look at other ways to continue to seek reconciliation. People I know, upon hearing this statement, asked the question - "“why do we need reconciliation - haven’t we done that?” In response I genuinely asked the question "What have we done to actually achieve reconciliation and when did that happen?" I openly admit that I did not really know the answer to their question. Their response was "You know...the apology in Parliament and recognition of the Stolen Generation, and other things like that." While I knew of these things it wasn't clear to me at all why the Australian Government was continuing to strive towards reconciliation. What was left to be done? And why is it important? I didn't want to be one of those people who are "blindly certain" of their own personal opinions based in ignorance - so I resolved to do some research - to educate myself on the matter so I could answer the question for myself based on knowledge rather than ignorance or by simply taking the path of so many by just "following the pack." My research was simple really. I googled the question "why is Australia continuing to pursue reconciliation in 2023?” I also asked [ChatGPT (Open AI)](https://chat.openai.com) the same question. > [!NOTE]- What is ChatGPT? > Watch this 1 minute YouTube Explainer ⇒ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIO9it4HFiQ Below are some of things I found out... ## ChatGPT (Open AI) Response Australia continues to pursue reconciliation in 2023 for several reasons: 1. Historical Injustices: Australia has a history of colonisation and mistreatment of its Indigenous peoples, which has left a legacy of dispossession, discrimination, and disadvantage. Reconciliation efforts aim to acknowledge and address these historical injustices. 2. Social Cohesion: Reconciliation efforts help build a more inclusive and cohesive society by addressing the divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Promoting understanding and cooperation among all Australians is essential for social harmony. 3. Closing the Gap: Australia has set goals to "close the gap" in areas such as health, education, employment, and life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Reconciliation initiatives play a crucial role in achieving these goals. 4. International Commitments: Australia has international obligations to promote the rights and well-being of Indigenous peoples, as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Pursuing reconciliation is part of meeting these obligations. 5. Truth and Reconciliation: Truth-telling about the historical injustices faced by Indigenous Australians is a fundamental aspect of reconciliation. Recognising the truth is essential for the healing process and for moving forward together as a nation. 6. Cultural Preservation: Indigenous cultures in Australia are rich and diverse. Reconciliation efforts include measures to preserve and promote Indigenous languages, traditions, and heritage. 7. Political Commitment: Both federal and state governments in Australia have made commitments to reconciliation, including formal apologies for past wrongs. This commitment is reflected in various policy initiatives and funding for Indigenous programs. 8. Grassroots Initiatives: Many community-based organizations and individuals are actively involved in reconciliation efforts, which are often driven at the grassroots level. These initiatives help mobilize support and raise awareness. 9. National Identity: Reconciliation is closely tied to Australia's national identity and values. Many Australians view reconciliation as an essential part of their nation's story and future. 10. Healing and Well-being: Reconciliation is not only about addressing past wrongs but also about promoting the healing and well-being of Indigenous communities. This involves support for mental health, cultural practices, and self-determination. In summary, Australia continues to pursue reconciliation in 2023 to rectify historical injustices, promote social cohesion, meet international obligations, preserve Indigenous cultures, and work towards a more equitable and inclusive society. Reconciliation efforts are seen as essential for healing, progress, and a stronger national identity. >**My Comment:** *The issue of historical injustices seems to be contentious with many people arguing that such injustices were perpetrated by people long ago and current generations should not have to account for their wrong doing. An essay that refutes this position called "[Collective Wrongs](https://aeon.co/essays/states-have-a-moral-responsibility-to-settle-their-debts)" suggests that even when individual perpetrators and victims are dead, states and institutions have a responsibility to make restitutions. This essay is worth reading in light of our reconciliation efforts.* > [!NOTE] > ChatGPT (Open AI) provided a useful summary of the reasons why reconciliation continues in 2023. But for more detail on exactly what needs doing my Google search provided more insight. --- ## Google Results My Google results highlighted that Australia has a body known as [Reconciliation Australia](https://www.reconciliation.org.au) who describe themselves as follows - ' We are an independent not-for profit organisation, the lead body for reconciliation in Australia. We promote and facilitate reconciliation by building relationships, respect and trust between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.' At its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. To read more about What is Reconciliation and the Five Dimensions of Reconciliation go to ⇒ [What is Reconciliation](https://www.reconciliation.org.au/reconciliation/what-is-reconciliation/) Scanning their website it became apparent to me that this body is the principle authority on Reconciliation in Australia and anyone wanting to understand more about Reconciliation would likely find answers on their website. Two things in particular stood out for me when doing an initial review of their website. The 2021 State of Reconciliation Report ([read the Full Report and the Summary online](https://www.reconciliation.org.au/publication/2021-state-of-reconciliation/)) and the 2020 Australian Reconciliation Barometer reproduced below. ![[Australian Reconciliation [email protected]]] The Barometer actually shocked me given the referendum results. Clearly either the Barometer was based on inaccurate research OR the political campaign undertaken for the NO vote was effective in changing people's opinions. Whatever the reasons it is clear that there has been a significant change in the level of support described above since 2020. > **One has to question how we went from 79% of Australians believing that we should have a national representative Indigenous body protected under the constitution to 65% of Australians actually voting against that proposal in 2023.** Nonetheless, the State of Reconciliation 2021 Report is a good place to start in answering the original question of this note - which was "why do we need reconciliation - haven't we done that?" I urge anyone visiting this page to avail themselves of this knowledge in order to be 'informed' on this important issue for all Australians. ## Video - State of Reconciliation in Australia 2021 <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3knrZuH-UzA?si=pKqs1OJDLrz27z2L" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> ## 2021 State of Reconciliation in Australia (Summary Report) The **[2021 State of Reconciliation in Australia report](https://www.reconciliation.org.au/publication/2021-state-of-reconciliation/)** captures a snapshot of where we are on our reconciliation journey, where we need to go, and how we are going to get there. The second such report, it builds upon the first State of Reconciliation in Australia Report, produced in 2016, which identified for the first time the five dimensions of reconciliation—Historical Acceptance; Race Relations; Equality and Equity; Institutional Integrity; and Unity. --- Also see the [2016 State of Reconciliation Summary Report](https://www.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/State-of-Reconciliation-Report_SUMMARY.pdf) (useful to see how our view of Reconciliation has changed in the 5 years since 2016) ## My Conclusion My own view (now that I have done some research) is that we still have some way to go before we can say the work of reconciliation is done and we are a united nation which has fully achieved the dimensions of reconciliation below. While much has been achieved, we are not done yet. ![[What-we-do-five-dimensions.jpg]] --- File Created: Sunday 15th October 2023 19:46:08 File Modified: Sunday 15th October 2023 23:02:36