Sadly, no "sorry day" events in Cairns on Wed 13th

Cairns City Council has failed to recognise the historical significance of the Federal Government’s formal apology to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stolen generation.

There is no indication that the Cairns City Council has worked with community groups to organise a local commemoration of the “Sorry Day” apology which will occur this coming Wednesday 13th February in Canberra.

The Kevin Byrne council has failed to understand that local action to acknowledge the federal government’s initiative would have assisted with reconciliation.

The Cairns Council area has a large Indigenous population with whom we have a shared history. We need to acknowledge their cultural connections with the land and the changes, challenges and injustices that have occurred with successive waves of people coming to live in this region.

Other cities and councils have organised events to recognise this historical day and there is much excitement in the Indigenous communities. In Sydney, the commemoration at Redfern will include a live broadcast of the apology on a giant screen, community activities, music, dance and a free BBQ for families.

It would have been an important gesture for Cairns City Council to facilitate activities where Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples could come together and watch the event unfold in Canberra.

My Cairns 1st Alliance is committed to recognising Indigenous peoples’ interests, giving them a greater voice and promoting their diverse historical and contemporary connections with places and peoples.

One of our policies is to establish a formal mechanism/s for continual Indigenous involvement in Council decision-making. And we also will look at how Council can contribute to practical measures to get more Indigenous young people into employment.