White heat: Blacks deaths

Lets' face it ATSIC can not solve these problems. We are not resourced to do so. But we can work in partnership with all governments and communities to find workable solutions. That is our role.

We want a commitment from government that practices which discriminate against our people will be eradicated from their justice systems, their eduction systems and their welfare regimes. We want the resources to enable communities to find ways out of the welfare traps they are caught in.

We expect to be central to government decision making, not to be kept on the margins. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the country want to be listened to by decision makers. We can reach an accommodation, but it must be on just terms.

I challenge all of our political leader at the national and state level to show the courage required to ensure the Royal Commission recommendations are implemented in full. If not we will be here again in ten years wondering what went so horribly wrong.