Jamie and the Greens believe that Australia must recognise the prior occupation and sovereignty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Australian Greens believe that:
- The Australian Constitution must recognise the prior and ongoing occupation and sovereignty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their right to land, water and resources.
- The Australian Government should adopt a treaty or treaties with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a strong cultural and spiritual connection with the land, waters, flora and fauna, and their rights and obligations as owners and custodians must be respected.
- Australia must comply with international instruments that recognise the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples including the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a right to self-determination and political representation, and should be enabled to lead in the development and implementation of public policies, programs and services that affect them.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the right to retain, and benefit financially from, the cultural and intellectual property and heritage rights invested in traditional knowledge and in the biodiversity of their own lands and waters, in accordance with the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
- Where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been dispossessed of their lands and waters they have a right to redress through measures that assist them to acquire, own, and/or manage their land, natural resources and waters, in a way that enhances their social, cultural, spiritual, economic and environmental wellbeing.
- All Australians, including those living in remote communities, have an equal right to essential government services such as health, education, training, housing, community infrastructure, employment support, and culturally appropriate policing.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are entitled to the same outcomes in health, life expectancy, education, employment and living standards as other Australians.
- Governments must recognise the continuing impact of the unjust treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples and make reparations to the Stolen Generations.
- It should be a national priority to reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people entering the criminal justice and child protection systems.
