The Chairperson, Dr Evelyn Scott, and Deputy Chairperson, Sir Gustav Nossal, today said that the reported statements of the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Reconciliation, Mr Philip Ruddock, in the French newspaper Le Monde were regrettable and did not help reconciliation.

Dr Scott and Professor Nossal said they would seek a meeting with Mr Ruddock to discuss his comments. However, they said that the minister’s comments would not detract from the outstanding success of "The Reconciliation Games" which had demonstrated the Australian people’s overwhelming support for reconciliation.

"Reconciliation emerged as a central theme of Sydney 2000, from the moment Nova Peris-Kneebone received the Olympic flame at Uluru through to the Opening Ceremony, Cathy Freeman lighting the cauldron, the whole nation stopping to watch Cathy win her race, IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch’s recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the closing ceremony," they said.

"Throughout the Games, Australians displayed tolerance and goodwill to the athletes, representatives and visitors from all nations, a fact which many commented on," Dr Scott said. "More than that, they responded warmly and positively to the recognition of Australia’s Indigenous people and their cultures in the Opening and Closing ceremonies. Above all, the whole nation stopped to cheer on Cathy Freeman’s win - a victory for all Australians, and a great boost for reconciliation."

Dr Scott and Professor Nossal said they were delighted that the Olympics had shown that the movement for reconciliation was gathering even more momentum following the nationwide people’s walks during and after the Corroboree 2000 event in May.

"In this context, Minister Ruddock’s comments are regrettable but not decisive," Professor Nossal said. "If he really meant to explain the social disadvantage of Indigenous people today by the fact that they came into contact with developed civilisations later than other Indigenous peoples, then this is an inaccurate analysis. As our Council and many others have said, today’s disadvantage essentially stems from the whole history of dispossession and mistreatment following British colonisation.

"The analogy with the Canadian and American Indians is ill-chosen, since it doesn’t explain their current levels of disadvantage," he said. "However, in the spirit of reconciliation, we hope to discuss this with him sometime soon."

CANBERRA 3 OCTOBER 2000

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