“Funding national Truth and Treaty processes is an investment in real power for First Nations people.” Said the Greens spokesperson for First Nations: Gunnai, Gunditjmara and DjabWurrung Senator Lidia Thorpe.

“Labor announcing funding for Truth and Treaty is a massive win for our grassroots, community campaign on Treaty. This budget proves what we’ve always said: that we can make progress on Truth, Treaty and Voice at the same time. 

PointsBet Australian brand ambassador Shaquille O'Neal has met with Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss their proposal for a Voice to Parliament.

This comes as Minister Burney met with the Joint Council on Closing Gap last week. The latest data from the Productivity Commission indicates that that the rates of suicide, incarceration and children in out-of-home care have risen for First Nations people.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has failed to save the Murujuga songlines, in allowing the Perdaman fertiliser plant to continue development on the Burrup Peninsula despite Traditional Owners' application for World Heritage listing of the site.

The following lines are attributable to Gunnai Gunditjmara DjabWurrung Senator Lidia Thorpe, the Greens spokesperson for First Nations:

“This is a clear violation of free, prior and informed consent as it is defined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP).

Today, hearings begin as Munupi Senior Lawman Dennis Tipakalippa sues Santos and the Federal Government over their approvals of the Barossa gas project, despite Santos’ failure to consult Traditional Owners. 

“This case could establish what adequate consultation looks like, when it comes to offshore gas projects. Native Title does not protect sea country,” said Greens Mining and Resources spokesperson, Yamatji Noongar Senator Dorinda Cox.

Following the death of a man at Port Phillip Prison on Wednesday, the family have asked the media to respect their privacy as they process their grief.

The following lines are attributable to Gunnai, Gunditjmara and DjabWurrung Senator Lidia Thorpe:

“These are real people's lives which have just been torn apart, again, by this system. The grief, the pain and the loss is overwhelming. The family demand respect and privacy as they process their grief.” 

The Greens party room has formally backed Greens Leader Adam Bandt and Senator Lidia Thorpe to negotiate with the Government over their proposed referendum on a Voice to Parliament in the Constitution.

“The government has said they’re prepared to discuss their plan for a Voice, and I’ve got the full support of my party to begin negotiations,” Senator Thorpe said.

Following the Albanese Government's announcement at the Garma Festival, Greens First Nations spokesperson, Gunnai, Gunditjmara and DjabWurrung Senator Lidia Thorpe, has announced that she will seek discussions with the government about their proposal for a Voice, with the aim of seeing other areas critical to First Nations justice also progressed.

Quotes attributable to Senator Lidia Thorpe:

New data from the Productivity Commission reveals that this country is still failing to hit more than two-thirds of the Closing the Gap targets. Suicide, adult incarceration, First Nations children in out of home care and developmental milestones are among the targets that are not on track.

“If the Albanese Government has any backbone, they will implement all of the recommendations from the Bringing them Home report and the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.”

Community Legal Centres across the country are in crisis, forced to turn away thousands of people in desperate need of legal assistance, after more than a decade of Coalition cuts. 

The Greens are today calling on the new Labor government to urgently distribute the funds they promised the sector in the election to meet immediate needs. 

We need the urgent rollout of Labor’s election promises. This can’t wait months and months because every day it’s delayed means hundreds more people being denied the most basic justice. 

The appalling state of WA’s prisons should be fully investigated, following news overnight that children as young as 14 will be transferred from the Banksia Hill Youth Detention Facility to Casuarina Prison today, the Greens said today.

The Greens remain profoundly concerned for the safety and wellbeing for these children.