Down with the aquatic monument to James Cook

Last week in Budget Estimates, Abigail asked about proposed plans at the site of invasion of Australia for ferry wharves and an "aquatic monument" to James Cook.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: In 2018 the current Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, co-launched a $50 million plan with the New South Wales Government to transform Kamay Botany Bay National Park to include ferry wharves at Kurnell and La Perouse and also to erect an aquatic monument—whatever that is—to James Cook. As you know and as you have alluded to, at La Perouse Aboriginal people have held a continuous connection to that land from the onset of colonisation to present. In 1883 La Perouse became a settlement for Aboriginal peoples who were forcibly displaced from their lands by the New South Wales Aborigines Protection Board. In your consultation with Aboriginal communities, do they think it is appropriate that the ferry project at La Perouse is in connection with a proposal to honour James Cook?

Mr COLLINS: I cannot answer that question because—I can tell you, though, what I will say is that we have worked very closely with the Aboriginal community at La Perouse... I cannot comment on the particular proposal or monument regarding the member for Cook.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: I do appreciate that it is not your proposal—it is Scott Morrison's proposal—but in your negotiations with the Aboriginal community has it been made explicit that this proposed ferry wharf is in connection with this proposed monument?

Mr COLLINS: In all of my discussions and those with Mr Reardon and Mr Jim Betts, we have not, or I have not, discussed that. We have focused on ensuring that, whatever services and impacts we have on those communities, we engage fully with the Aboriginal communities and ensure that we work with them in a constructive and positive way.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: From your experience working with those people, would you agree that it would be inappropriate to build such a monument in such an important area for First Nations peoples?

Mr COLLINS: I do not think it is appropriate for me to comment on that.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: I understand. Thank you.

To read the full exchange, see Hansard here.

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

No matter who you are or what you do, everyone has the right to share in the wellbeing of our country.

But at the moment the essentials so many of us need – a place to call home, food on the table, and everyday essentials like electricity, internet, medicine and water – are simply out of reach.

Instead of supporting us, our government is choosing to prop up huge corporations with massive subsidies, and to give away our collective wealth through record tax cuts for the wealthy. Meanwhile, the rest of us are left to live paycheck to paycheck or trapped in the dehumanising bureaucracy of our existing welfare system.

Now, in the midst of a pandemic, and following quickly on the heels of the bushfire crisis, more of us than ever before are experiencing what it’s like to lose our jobs, be without a home, or worry about where the food for our next meal will come from.

It’s time for us to choose to prioritise the wellbeing of everyone.

And that’s exactly what the Universal Wellbeing Payment will do.

It’s a regular payment made to each of us to ensure our minimum standard of wellbeing. No means testing, no bureaucracy, no strings attached.

It’s the amount you’re owed simply for being a participant in our society.

It means you are free to live your life and contribute to society as you see fit, whether you’re a carer, an artist, a student, a parent, an entrepreneur – you can get on with what you need to do, knowing that you will always be supported regardless of your income.

It means that we’re choosing to structure our economy for the benefit of all of us, not using our collective wealth to prop up the interests of big business and the wealthy few.

It means you will always have what you need to live a good life, no matter what.

The Universal Wellbeing Payment is for everyone. Help us make it happen.

For more information, head to universalwellbeingpayment.com.au

106

3,000 signatures

Will you sign?

First Name

Last Name

Mobile phone

Home Phone

Address (Street, Suburb, State, Postcode)

Country

Join with Facebook

Join with Twitter

Down with the aquatic monument to James Cook

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

Will you sign?

Join the Campaign

Join 51,076 other supporters in taking action