Transcript by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Comments at the launch of the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre’s Indigenous heritage project, Parliament House

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JENNY MACKLIN: I acknowledge my Parliamentary colleagues who are here – Chris Trevor, in whose electorate is the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, Jim Turnour from Leichhardt, Bruce Scott from Maranoa, thanks so much Bruce. All of them have been in support of this fantastic initiative. To everyone who’s really made it happen today including the people who are going to give me lessons on whip cracking. We’re going to bring you into the House of Representatives soon and see if it works in there, what you do reckon?

It’s such a pleasure to be here today and to be able to recognise the wonderful work that so many of you do. I do want to acknowledge the work of the Indigenous Land Corporation. Thank you Shirley and David for everything you do. Not only making sure Indigenous land is being used for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but also making sure that there are so many opportunities for Aboriginal people to learn and continue the skills that they’ve demonstrated as horsemen, as stockmen and stockwomen. It’s fantastic to see the girls on the horses here today, we know that they’ve got fantastic skills. And what we’re announcing today is $150,000 to go towards the telling of the stories, Jack.

JACK THOMPSON: Fantastic, thank you.

JENNY MACKLIN: We know how many of you want to make sure that these stories are told, that they’re better understood by all Australians. We know that Aboriginal people have an enormous amount to be proud of given their history as stockmen and stockwomen and we want those stories to be told. We want our children to hear them, we want them to know that this is part of our story, part of the Australian story that we can all be part of. So to all of you who’ve been involved, my very sincere congratulations and we’re so pleased to be able to be part of it. And I think we’re going to get some lessons, is that right?