MOTIONS › Senate Chamber: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags
Senator THORPE (Victoria) (15:55): I seek leave to make a short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute. Senator THORPE: This is not my first speech, but thank you so very much for allowing Black people to speak about the Black flag! I remind you all that we are on stolen land, and the Aboriginal flag represents the oldest continuing living culture in the world. I'm not sure where everyone else comes from, but my people, the Aboriginal people—Wurundjeri, Ngambri, Ngunawal—have been here for thousands and thousands and thousands of generations. The Aboriginal flag is what we identify with and connect with, just as you connect with the colonial flag that you love and appeal to. You appeal to the colonisers that colonised these lands and that's why our— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Order! Without in any way reflecting on the movers of the motion or any speech made, I simply say, from the chair, it is a personal concern I've expressed on a lot of occasions where senators are being asked to vote on a matter of some passion and complexity without all having the opportunity to speak. I make it very clear: I'm not reflecting on the movers of the motion for bringing it during the time allocated in the Senate for them to bring it. But there is an issue, obviously, where a handful of senators are speaking on an issue that all senators are being required to vote on. I will now put the motion moved by Senators Thorpe, Dodson and McCarthy. The question is that motion No. 753 be agreed to.