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Tasmanian Aboriginals


House of Assembly, Tasmania

Budget Reply

Every year at Budget time the Greens do the work to lay out a clear, big hearted, evidence based alternative plan for Tasmania.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  31 May 2023


Aboriginal Flag

Greens Proud to Stand with Labor and Liberals on Voice to Parliament

As Greens Leader, I am proud to be standing on a unity ticket with Jeremy Rockliff and Rebecca White today to back in a Yes vote on the Voice referendum.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  17 Apr 2023


Aboriginal Flag

Key Tasmania Aboriginal Representative Group Expresses No Confidence in Jaensch

The Premier has no choice but to remove Roger Jaensch from the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  13 Apr 2023


Aboriginal Flag

Tasmanian Aboriginal People

We rise to speak on the issue of Tasmanian Aboriginal people on the land of the palawa pakana people in front of the Aboriginal flag.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  30 Mar 2023


Aboriginal Flag

Leave to Move Motion Forthwith

I pay my deep respect to the palawa Tasmanians, to representatives who stand in the Chamber today because of their protest to the words of this minister.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  30 Mar 2023


Parliament House, Tasmania

Leave to Move Motion Forthwith

This minister has lost the confidence and the faith, not only of the Greens, he has lost the confidence and the faith of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  30 Mar 2023


Parliament House, Tasmania

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs - Actions

Premier, will you sack him because he will not stand by and has lost the confidence of Tasmanian Aboriginal people?

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  30 Mar 2023


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Tasmanian Aboriginal People - Submission by CHAC

The Tasmanian Constitution recognises Tasmania's Aboriginal people as the traditional and original owners of Tasmanian lands and waters.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  30 Mar 2023


takayna / tarkine, Tasmania

takayna / Tarkine

As for calling the Tarkine/takayna the 'so-called Tarkine', poor Mr Young does not know his history and does not understand the facts.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  23 Mar 2023


Parliament House, Tasmania

Reply to the Premier's Address (state of the State)

I acknowledge and pay my deepest respects to Tasmania's Aboriginal people, the palawa pakana.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  22 Mar 2023


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Liberals' Aboriginal Incarceration Shame

New data released by the Productivity Commission shows once more just how hollow the words of successive Premiers and Ministers have been for Aboriginal people

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  31 Jan 2023


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Pathway to Truth-Telling and Treaty - Delivering on Recommendations

It is almost exactly a year since professors Kate Warner and Tim McCormack handed down their landmark report on a Pathway to Truth-Telling and Treaty.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Nov 2022


kunanyi / Mount Wellington

Rockliff Liberals Refuse to Rule Out Further Cable Car Facilitation 

When the Greens asked the Premier to rule out further law changes to facilitate the Liberals’ pet project in Parliament this morning, he refused.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  9 Nov 2022


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kooparoona niara - Aboriginal National Park

In March last year the Aboriginal Land Council formally claimed ownership of the kooparoona niara-Great Western Tiers area.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  27 Oct 2022


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Alleged Assault of Aboriginal Man in Police Custody

An initial review of CCTV footage has been undertaken by Tasmania Police Professional Standards, which decided no immediate action will be taken.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  26 Oct 2022


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Alleged Assault of Aboriginal Man in Police Custody

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre has issued a statement about the shocking treatment of a 20-year-old Aboriginal man.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  25 Oct 2022


Aboriginal Flag

Rockliff Should Celebrate NAIDOC Week By Returning kooparoona niara ASAP

We urge Premier Rockliff to celebrate NAIDOC Week by getting on with truth-telling, Treaty and the return of lands in lutruwita.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  4 Jul 2022


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Land Returns - Greens MPI

After the report on truth telling and treaty from Professors Warner and McCormack it's well understood Aboriginal people in lutruwita need much more than words.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  16 Jun 2022


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Aboriginal Land Council - Return of Lands in World Heritage Area

Will you show the Government is serious about the return of lands and commit yourself and the Premier to sitting down with the Aboriginal Land Council?

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  16 Jun 2022


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Aboriginal Affairs – Land Returns

Minister, as you know, it is almost 20 years since any lands were formally returned through legislative process to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  8 Jun 2022


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Greens Move to Disallow kooparoona niara Proclamation

The path to reconciliation has been slow, painful and full of disappointment for Aboriginal Tasmanians.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  16 Jun 2022


South Coast Track Luxury Lodge Development - Aboriginal Heritage Report

In my hand is a right to information document that is 738 pages long with 658 pages, unsurprisingly, fully redacted.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  25 May 2022


Secrets in the Southwest

A recently released Right to Information (RTI) request reveals the secrecy over Expressions of Interest (EOI) proposals continues unabated.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  25 May 2022


House of Assembly, Tasmania

Reply to Premier's Address

The Greens are a party committed to truth telling, to treaty, to the return of stolen lands and to changing the date of our nation's day.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  8 Mar 2022


Parliament House, Tasmania

Reply to Premier's Address

First, I acknowledge the Aboriginal people of Tasmania, I acknowledge 219 years of dispossession from landscape and violence towards First Nations people.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  8 Mar 2022


Halls Island on Lake Malbena, Walls of Jerusalem Nationa Park, Tasmania

Petrusma Labels TWWHA Cultural Assessment ‘Impractical and Unnecessary’

The Liberals are running roughshod over the wishes of UNESCO and any spirit of consensus building with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  3 Mar 2022


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Greens Mourn Invasion Day with Tasmanian Aboriginal People

On this day across the nation, Aboriginal people mourn the loss of their country.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  26 Jan 2022


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Pathway to Reconciliation

We are standing on country that was taken at the point of a gun, an island that was never ceded by its true owners.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  25 Nov 2021


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Greens Welcome Pathway to Truth-Telling and Treaty Report

The generational grief, deep wounds and enduring dispossession of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people have been acknowledged by the Tasmanian Parliament today.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  25 Nov 2021


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Aunty Phyllis Pitchford - Tribute

Aunty Phyllis Pitchford, what an extraordinary Tasmanian and what a wonderful legacy of love she has left behind.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  28 Oct 2021


Prison, Barbed-Wire Fence

Aboriginal Affairs - Ashley Youth Detention

There has been a sharp spike in the number of Aboriginal children ending up in the Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  8 Sep 2021


Bureaucracy, Professional with Paperwork

Aboriginal Affairs - Crown Land Divestment

A few weeks ago, the minister for Parks announced a plan to divest, sell, what she described as 'excess' Crown lands.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  8 Sep 2021


Parliament House, Tasmania

Aboriginal Affairs - Truth telling

Have you had any discussions with the professors who are undertaking the work about what that might look like?

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  8 Sep 2021


Parliament House, Tasmania

Budget Reply

I am proud to speak to the Tasmanian Greens fully costed, long term vision for Tasmania, our alternative budget 2021-22.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  2 Sep 2021


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Takayna Tracks Decision at Last

The Gutwein Government has finally decided not to press ahead with reopening three four wheel drive tracks in takayna/Tarkine

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  9 Aug 2021


Parliament House, Tasmania

Cassy O'Connor Reply to Premier's Address

The world is in the grip of a pandemic and here in Tasmania, of course, there has been suffering.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  18 Mar 2021


Prison, Man Gripping Bars

Liberal Policies Filling Jails, Increasing Aboriginal Incarcerations, Clogging Courts

The latest ROGS data on Justice again confirms the State has gone backwards, socially, under the Liberals.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  22 Jan 2021


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Gutwein Government Quietly Reverses Road Plan Over palawa Mass Grave

A hugely significant Aboriginal cultural heritage site, and suspected scene of a colonial massacre, will be protected from road expansion plans.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  14 Jan 2021


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Infrastructure and Transport – Eaglehawk Neck Road Widening

We understand the road widening works at Eaglehawk Neck will impact on a quite ancient Aboriginal burial site.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Nov 2020


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Veterans' Affairs - Eaglehawk Neck Aboriginal Grave Site

The proposed land for road widening at Eaglehawk Neck includes what is potentially the site of Tasmanian's largest massacre of lutruwita's First Peoples.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  26 Nov 2020


Green Economics

Budget Reply

The year 2020 began with a firestorm that devastated communities, forests and wildlife from the south coast of Victoria to the south east of Queensland.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  18 Nov 2020


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South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation, Ballawinne Festival

The South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation (SETAC) was officially formed in 1992.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  11 Nov 2020


Parliament House, Tasmania

Aboriginal Flag - Permanent Presence above Parliament House

I am pleased to be a member of a party which has always recognised that this land was stolen, it was never ceded, and that true justice for Aboriginal people.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  11 Nov 2020


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Aboriginal Flag - Permanent Presence above Parliament House

First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years - the oldest continuing culture in the world.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  11 Nov 2020


Aboriginal Flag

House of Assembly Supports Greens’ Move to Fly Aboriginal Flag Over Parliament

In a rare show of unanimity, the House of Assembly has supported a Greens’ Motion to permanently fly the Aboriginal flag over Parliament.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  11 Nov 2020


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Aboriginal Flag - Permanent Presence above Parliament House

Aboriginal heritage protection is still often treated as an afterthought or, at worst, ignored in place like the Tarkine.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  11 Nov 2020


Parliament House, Tasmania

Labor and Liberals Unite to Axe Environmental Estimates Scrutiny

Labor and the Liberals have today united to drastically cut the time allocated in Budget Estimates to scrutinise key government portfolios.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  11 Nov 2020


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Anzac Day Trust Winding-Up Bill 2020

The establishment of this trust is an interesting short story. On the year of its winding up it has reached a half century.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  13 Oct 2020


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Brahminy Foundation Program

There are six young Aboriginal Tasmanians banished to a remote facility in the Northern Territory.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  13 Oct 2020


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Elise Archer Should Know Prison is No Place for a Child

Tasmania’s Attorney General, Elise Archer, chaired a meeting of her federal, state and territory counterparts yesterday which again failed Australian children.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  28 Jul 2020


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A Premier Serious About Resetting the Relationship Will Walk Away from Tarkine Tracks

It’s encouraging to hear Premier Gutwein sound genuine about reconciliation and land returns for this island’s First People.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  11 Jun 2020


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Gutwein Must Step Up in National Reconciliation Week

After six years in government, no real progress has been made on returning land to Tasmanian Aboriginal people. 

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  29 May 2020


Parliament House, Tasmania

Cassy O'Connor Premiers Address Reply

Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise on behalf of the Tasmanian Greens to deliver my response to the Premier's Address on the state of the state.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  4 Mar 2020


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Time To Really Listen to Aboriginal Land Managers

In an age of climate and biodiversity emergency it’s critical we draw on Aboriginal knowledge of burning practices to better manage bushfire risk. 

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  26 Jan 2020


Industrial Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Hodgman Government's Legacy

Cassy O'Connor questions the Premier over a year of failings.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  28 Nov 2019


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Aboriginal Place Names Usage

Premier, on 26 January 2015 as the newly minted premier, or relatively so, you promised to reset the relationship with Aboriginal Tasmanians.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  11 Sep 2019


kunanyi / Mount Wellington

MWCC Moves In on kunanyi, Facing Public Opposition

The 6,000 or more Tasmanians who gathered in protest in the foothills of kunanyi/Mt Wellington last May stand ready to defend the mountain.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  12 Jun 2019


Green Economics

Greens Release Future-Focussed Alternative Budget

Today we proudly delivered the Tasmanian Greens’ fully costed, long-term vision for Tasmania, our Alternative Budget 2019-20. 

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  29 May 2019


Aboriginal Flag

National Sorry Day

National Sorry Day is an opportunity to reflect on the wrongs that have yet to be righted for the palawa/pakana people of Tasmania.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  26 May 2019


takayna / tarkine, Tasmania

Respect for First Peoples Connection to Country

The Aboriginal Land Council’s calls for the West Coast Aboriginal landscape to be returned should be heard by both the Federal and State Governments.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  2 Oct 2018


takayna / tarkine, Tasmania

Return of Kings Run Shows Community Leadership

The return of the late, great Geoff King's takayna property to Aboriginal ownership is an historic moment.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  9 Oct 2017


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takayna/Tarkine - Four-Wheel Drive Tracks

The recent bid to reopen four-wheel-drive tracks in the takayna/Tarkine details a host of major earthworks, rehabilitation and other engineering.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  13 Sep 2017


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Tarkine - Opening of Four-wheel Drive Tracks

Respected Aboriginal heritage expert Rocky Sainty has described the move to reopen four-wheel drive tracks as a deplorable intention.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  12 Sep 2017


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Tarkine - Opening of Four-wheel Drive Tracks

Rocky Sainty this morning sent out a statement condemning the Premier's decision to seek Commonwealth approval to reopen tracks in the Tarkine.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  12 Sep 2017


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Protection of Aboriginal Heritage

The establishment of this panel represents an important opportunity for healing and to improve outcomes for Tasmania's Aboriginal people.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  9 Aug 2017


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Reckless, Desperate Liberals No Respect for Aboriginal Heritage

The Premier is more concerned about the Liberals' prospects in Braddon than he is about 'resetting the relationship' with the Aboriginal community.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  9 Sep 2017


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Premier Hodgman Shows Total Contempt for Tasmania's First People

The Premier has lost control of the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio, with six members of his newly established Aboriginal Heritage Council resigning.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  12 Sep 2017


Public Meeting, Town Hall

Turnbull Government Australia Day Bullying of Councils

The Turnbull Government is trying to bully Tasmanian councils into bending to the conservatives' ideological will.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  15 Aug 2017


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Reconciliation Council of Tasmania Launch

There is new hope for reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Tasmanians, with the establishment of the Reconciliation Council of Tasmania today.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  9 Aug 2017


Religion, Book

Time to Rethink Parliamentary Prayers

The daily Tasmanian Parliamentary recitation of the Lord’s Prayer no longer reflects contemporary Tasmanian society, which is multicultural and multi-faith.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  7 Aug 2017


kunanyi / Mount Wellington

Labor in Step with Liberals on Cable Car

Labor Leader, Rebecca White, has confirmed her party supports the construction of a cable car on kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  16 Jun 2017


Hobart, Tasmania

Hodgman Should Follow Hobart City Council's Australia Day Example

The Greens welcome Hobart City Council's decision to review their Australia Day celebrations and write to the Federal Government about changing the date.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  4 Apr 2017


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Liberals Show Two Faces on Aboriginal Heritage

The bill tabled in Parliament today is both a lost opportunity and a clear sign that the Liberals wear two faces on Aboriginal heritage issues.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  15 Mar 2017


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Abetz Comments on 26 January Disrespectful and Divisive

Eric Abetz does not appear to be able to help himself, using disrespectful and divisive language to argue for maintaining 26 January as our national day.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  25 Jan 2017


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Tarkine Decision Gives Hodgman an Out

Today's Federal Court decision gives Premier Hodgman the opportunity to do the right thing and pull out of the case to reopen Tarkine tracks.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  16 Sep 2016


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Hypocrisy from Premier on Aboriginal Heritage

The Premier rightly condemned the vandalism of priceless Aboriginal rock art, yet is fighting in the courts for vandalism to continue in the Tarkine.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  26 May 2016


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Liberals Determined to Damage and Divide on Aboriginal Heritage

Tasmanian taxpayers will fork out for expensive lawyers to support the Hodgman Government’s bid to persuade the full bench of the Federal Court.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  22 Mar 2016


takayna / tarkine, Tasmania

Rylah's Divisive Comments Do Nothing to Reset the Relationship

When Braddon MP, Joan Rylah, tabled her Notice of Motion in Parliament yesterday it was designed to divide the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  16 Mar 2016


Bushfire, Burned Forest

State of the State Address in Reply

On behalf of the Tasmanian Greens MPs, I pay respect to the palawa/pakana people of Tasmania, to their treasured elders, past and present.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  15 Mar 2016


Aboriginal Flag

Premier Needs to Resist Caving to Pressure over Tarkine Tracks

If the Premier is serious about resetting the relationship with Aboriginal Tasmanians he will resist pressure from a noisy minority to reopen Tarkine tracks.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  20 Feb 2016


Aboriginal Flag

Australia Day No Celebration for Tasmania's First People

Each year, on the 26th of January, Australia is a nation divided by its history.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  26 Jan 2016


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The Premier Can Save the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service

It is not good enough for the Premier to stand in the Tasmanian Parliament and say he is waiting for further information from Attorney General Brandis' office.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  16 Jun 2015


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Slow Progress on Resetting Relationship with Aboriginal Tasmanians

The Premier's commitment to 'reset the relationship' with Aboriginal Tasmanians is off to an uninspiring and noncommittal start.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  9 Jun 2015


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Mabo Day

Mabo Day, which marked the 23rd anniversary of the landmark court case that made land rights possible for aboriginal Australians.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  4 Jun 2015


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Liberals fail Leadership Test

Discussions around treaty need to be entered into with an open mind and an open heart, but Premier Hodgman it would seem is just like the rest of them.

Kim Booth  |  Media Release  |  1 May 2014


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Tasmanian Aboriginal Constitutional Recognition

The Premier’s move to require a Parliamentary Committee to examine Constitutional Recognition of Tasmanian Aboriginals does not go far enough.

Kim Booth  |  Media Release  |  24 Apr 2015


Multicultural, Hands on Hands

Vale Malcolm Fraser

Malcolm Fraser’s fierce and principled advocacy for human rights, both at home and internationally, transcended the political divide.

Kim Booth  |  Media Release  |  20 Mar 2015


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Call for Tasmanian Aboriginal Treaty

The Greens today called for a formal Treaty to be negotiated between the State of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.

Kim Booth  |  Media Release  |  26 Jan 2015


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New National Celebration Date Needed

Political leaders need to be serious about moving Australia Day to a date other than the 26th of January.

Kim Booth  |  Media Release  |  26 Jan 2015


takayna / tarkine, Tasmania

Tarkine Insult

Braddon back-bencher should apologise to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community for her unfortunate and ignorant statements during Budget Estimates Scrutiny.

Kim Booth  |  Media Release  |  9 Sep 2014


Aboriginal Flag

Local Aboriginal Footy Round

Kim Booth MP today took the opportunity in Parliament to congratulate the Rocherlea Football Club on hosting their annual Aboriginal football round.

Kim Booth  |  Media Release  |  3 Jun 2014