AUSTRALIAN-FIRST ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES BILL PASSES NSW PARLIAMENT

NSW is officially the first state in Australia to pass legislation through Parliament  acknowledging the value and importance of language to our country’s First Peoples and to the cultural heritage of NSW.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Sarah Mitchell said today was an historic day for Aboriginal people in Australia.

“The NSW Government has worked tirelessly alongside Aboriginal communities, Elders and language experts to develop legislation that acknowledges the importance of Aboriginal languages for past, current and future generations,” Ms Mitchell said.

“I am proud of how far we have come and I’m committed to working alongside Aboriginal people from right across the State as we continue on this journey to promote and reawaken languages.”

The Legislation was developed following extensive consultation at 32 workshops held  across NSW.

The legislation establishes an Aboriginal Languages Trust made up of Aboriginal community leaders to oversee the development of a strategic plan that will protect and strengthen Aboriginal languages.