Kaya,

Ngany Kwel Hannah McGlade, I'm a descendant of Meriji, Woyung and Sarah Yettung Woods from Minang country.

I stand here today not only as a proud Bibbulman woman - but also as an expert member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Nidja Kwobidak (beautiful) Noongar Boodja. Wanjoo WELCOME Koorda FRIENDS Yorga, WOMEN maaman MEN (ba) Kulunga AND CHILDREN.

I recently read an interesting fact about January 26. Of all the 56 Commonwealth nations Australia stands alone by celebrating the beginning of British rule – while almost all other Commonwealth nations commemorate their independence from it

What does this tell us about our country - and who we are as a nation?

Sadly, I think Australia is a nation too often forgetful about our past - which for so many of our people is living memory.

I want to speak about the attacks on Aboriginal people, especially children and youth which has almost become the norm in this country.

Over the last few months this has been evident from laws being passed by newly elected governments - in NT and Queensland – by Country Liberal and LNP governments. These governments engaged in racist political campaigns - by promising new laws that breach human rights.

These governments have thumbed their noses at binding UN laws – especially - the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The NT government promised if elected - to lower the age of criminal responsibility to just 10 years, undoing recent laws increasing it to 12. The International United Nations law - says no child under 14 – should be held criminally responsible.

And last week they announced they want to undermine - the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle that helps to keep kids safe with family and community. This gives courts greater opportunity to place Aboriginal children with Non Aboriginal families outside of their culture. And we know that our kids are strong when raised in their culture.

In Queensland, the new government promised a law that would see children do adult prison time, abandoning the fundamental principle of incarceration – which should only be -a last resort. Especially for children.

These laws have been condemned by the International United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child - and rightly so.

We are not standing idle on this matter. I've been working with a small team on a submission to the International United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

We are requesting the Committee take urgent action at what is happening to Aboriginal children in Australia today - because of shocking, regressive laws being passed, and largely impacting Aboriginal kids.

We can all call on the Federal Government to implement the report of the National Children's Commissioner which directly address these issues I speak about today.

It's shameful that here in WA we're not doing any better than the NT and Queensland governments, with the situation at Banksia Hill Detention Centre.

Two children have now died because of solitary confinement and Unit 18 at Casuarina Men's Maximum Security Prison, if there are family that stand here today, impacted by Banksia Hill - I give my deepest sympathy. Again another violation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child - which prohibits children being placed in adult prisons.

As the Custodial Inspector said – there's a unit at Banksia which could be used to house the children at Unit 18 - which should be closed before any more children die from government blatant disregard - for HUMAN RIGHTS.

Not long ago at Wadjemup/Rottnest Island - a ceremony was held to acknowledge the history of the island. A history of violent incarceration of Aboriginal men. with over 500 of the men incarcerated – dying from brutality.

Premier Roger Cook said - 'I'm sorry for the incarceration'.

As we teach our children today, Sorry means we understand how wrong something was - and how we should never do it again.

But -

We don't want any more apologies or hollow gestures.

We want - respect for human rights.

We want our children strong; we want our language back; we want to be treated fairly in this country.

It's time for justice and real change.

This year the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will look at implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

These rights need to be implemented in Australian law, not used in a shallow way as frequently is the case.

If Australia is serious about the closing the gap policy, it should start with respect for human rights, especially the rights of the children.

We can't do that yet, thank you for Standing with us and using your voices.

Boordawan ngany moort

Yokai benang!

This speech was delivered in Boorloo at the January 26 rally.