Today marks UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Queenslanders are being urged to commemorate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples today.

Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Curtis Pitt said today was the ninth global day recognising Indigenous peoples.

"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are the very first Queenslanders," he said.

"They've cared for our land, wind and waters for millenia and have built an enduring cultural legacy for all Queenslanders.

"Today is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate their contribution to our way of life."

Mr Pitt said the Declaration places a responsibility on States to cooperate in good faith with Indigenous peoples and their representatives to obtain informed consent on legislative or administrative measures that may affect them.

“That’s why we’ve established a Taskforce of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to oversee the disbursement of $21 million reparations fund for the wages which were stolen from Indigenous Queenslanders,” he said.

Mr Pitt said the historic UN Declaration established a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, well-being and rights of the world's Indigenous peoples.

“It not only addresses individual, collective and cultural rights and identity, it also seeks to protect Indigenous people’s right to education, health, employment, language, and more,” he said.

“The Declaration outlaws discrimination, promotes full and effective participation and ensures the rights of Indigenous people to pursue their own visions of economic, social and cultural development.”

Mr Pitt said self-determination, as outlined in the Declaration, couldn’t genuinely occur in a country which didn’t recognise its Indigenous people as the first Australians.

“Queensland has already made the important first step of recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our state’s constitution,” he said.

”I am encouraged by the recent national conversation around this issue and call on the Commonwealth Government to ensure constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

Media contact: Martin Philip 0427 919 548