From The Campaign Trail

Once again I am embarrassed by actions of the Howard Government in the international arena - this time, their failure to support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: http://www.iwgia.org/sw248.asp. After almost two decades, the UN General Assembly voted for this important Declaration - 143 votes in favour, 4 against (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, USA) and 11 abstentions. The Declaration is a non-binding basic agreement affirming some of the most fundamental rights of 370 million indigenous peoples. The Howard Government’s failure to support the Declaration simply mirrors its narrow minded domestic approach which has confined reconciliation to the political wilderness. I am very pleased that a Federal Labor Government will sign this Declaration.