The Tasmanian Greens recognise that the Aboriginal people had prior occupation of the land now known as Tasmania. We acknowledge that the Aboriginal people were dispossessed of this land following its invasion by the British in 1803 and regret that the ethnocentric attitude of British colonists was the cause of this dispossession and other acts of discrimination perpetrated since.

The Tasmanian Greens believe that the present generation of the non-Aboriginal community has a responsibility to address the injustices that continue today. We wish to heal our relationship with the Aboriginal community and recognise that genuine reconciliation must be founded on the establishment of social justice.

Because of the close connection between the land and Aboriginal cultural identity, we recognise that restitution can only be achieved through the further return of land which is of spiritual, cultural, historical and economic significance to the Aboriginal people.

The Tasmanian Greens recognise that justice requires addressing all continuing inequities relating to health, education, housing, the justice system, the economy and self-determination.   Comprehensive action on every issue affecting our indigenous people can only be formulated with the direct participation of Aboriginal communities on an on-going basis.

Measures:

Return of Land:   return to the Aboriginal community further land which is of spiritual, cultural, historic and economic significance

Land Management:  assist Aboriginal communities in managing those areas of land returned to the community, with the administration of any funding to be based on the principle of self-determination

Aboriginal Heritage Legislation:  enact updated heritage protection legislation to replace the Aboriginal Relics Act, and provide resources to protect heritage, including policing and prosecutions relating to site damage

Cultural Property:   recognise ownership of cultural property on land and within institutions, and ensure Aboriginal control and management of that cultural property

Cultural Activities:  support Aboriginal people in legally pursuing cultural activities based on hunting and gathering;   buy back abalone and crayfish quotas for Aboriginal community use

Aboriginal Studies:  introduce courses on Aboriginal history and culture as core subjects in Tasmanian schools

Empowerment:  support the creation of new opportunities for economic and cultural development within Tasmania's Aboriginal community

Aboriginal Needs:  encourage research into the needs of Tasmanian Aboriginal people in the areas of health, education, housing and job opportunities, and promote young women’s leadership programs

Self Management:  affirm the right of Aboriginal people to be involved in the management of the delivery of their health and education services

Whole of Government:  maintain a dedicated unit within the Department of Premier and Cabinet to ensure social justice principles are employed by all government departments in policy formulation and service provision, with special reference to the needs and interests of the Aboriginal community

Stolen Generation:  support Aboriginal families who suffered severe dislocation due to past government policies, and ensure that future government policy does not have the effect of separating Aboriginal families

Imprisonment and Rehabilitation:  ensure full implementation of the recommendations of the Report of the Royal Commission on Black Deaths in Custody; support the Aboriginal community’s offender treatment programs

Consultation:  encourage the conservation movement, the farming community, developers and others to consult and work with the Aboriginal community on conservation issues