Australian Greens MPs have offered to officiate citizenship ceremonies for councils that have been stripped of their power and still want to hold ceremonies. All Australian federal MPs have the power to conduct citizenship ceremonies within their own electorate.

“I commend the Byron Bay Council for taking this important step towards truth, justice and healing, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues Senator Rachel Siewert said.

“Having a “separate day for Indigenous people” is something out of an apartheid regime.

Scott Morrisons dismissal of First Nations’ calls to celebrate our country on a date other than January 26 demonstrates the disconnect with, and contempt held by our Government for First Nations communities, Senator Rachel Siewert said today.  

“The fact that our Prime Minister Scott Morrison has labelled First Nations calls for a date of celebration other than January 26 as “indulgent self-loathing” is simply disgusting, and demonstrates this Government’s ignorance of what this date really means to First Nations peoples,” Senator Siewert said.

Banning people from travelling overseas if they have a social security debt is a further example of the Government exercising control over peoples lives and any attempt to use the flawed robo-debt process for this would be deeply unfair, Australian Greens spokesperson on Family & Community Services Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“A lot of the debts the Government claims are owed will be from the deeply flawed robo-debt debacle.

Peter Dutton’s attempts to deport Murri man Daniel Love to PNG is yet another disgraceful move by this Government.

Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, Senator Rachel Siewert said:

“First Nations peoples are the traditional owners of this land, how deeply insulting, how disrespectful that Mr Dutton thinks that he should deport Mr Love.

“Mr Love has lived in Australia since he was 5 years old, he is a First Nations person. If anyone has the right to be here, it’s him.

The Senate has today supported the Greens motion calling for the Government to take urgent action to address the shameful rates of First Nations Peoples deaths in custody since the Royal Commission.

“It is appalling that we haven’t had comprehensive monitoring of deaths in custody since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, Senator Rachel Siewert, spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues said today.

“This issue is not being addressed with the urgency required. 

The Australian Greens welcome Premier McGowan’s recommendation that the globally significant rock art of Murujuga (the Burrup Peninsula) be nominated for UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List but remain concerned about further industrial expansion near the sensitive rock art site.

The Greens (WA) have doubled down on calls for the proposed Yeelirrie uranium mine to be scrapped, citing environmental concerns for endangered species and a lack of approval from local Aboriginal people.

Traditional owners, Nuclear Free campaigners and activists participating in the anti-nuclear Walkatjurra Walkabout event will complete their month long trek from Wiluna to Leonora on Saturday, to protest the proposed mine.

I am pleased that the Senate has today supported the Greens motion calling for a national reparations scheme for survivors of the Stolen Generations and their families.

“We know that members of the Stolen Generations face long-term disadvantage including poorer health and social outcomes, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues Senator Rachel Siewert said today.