This year’s National Reconciliation Week means it’s celebration time all round the country with the Prime Minister making a generous contribution to the party fund.
This year will be both the 50th anniversary of the successful 1967 “Yes to Aborigines” Referendum and the 25th anniversary of the Mabo High Court decision.
To mark the occasion the Federal Government has announced a series of grants to help communities celebrate.
The grants of $5,000 to local councils will be used to work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations to observe this historic event.
President of the Australian Local Government Association, Mayor David O’Loughlin, said, “We congratulate the Turnbull Federal Government for choosing local councils as partners in celebrating this national milestone in communities from the Pilbara to Portsea and Devonport to the Daintree, and every metropolitan council in between.
“Local councils are a strong supporter of National Reconciliation Week and play a central role in acknowledging Australia’s past and celebrating the future through holding a variety of local events to celebrate the spirit of reconciliation.
“Reconciliation Week is about building positive and respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. Local councils play a leadership role in this space, putting into action on a daily basis the ideals represented in National Reconciliation Week.
“The local government sector as a whole continues to be committed to developing and promoting Indigenous involvement in events and celebrations of significance which respect the dignity and protocols of the local Indigenous community, as well as improving the level of participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in local government at all levels.”
