The failure to take action on the Uluru Statement from the Heart was a tragedy.
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The 2017 statement, delivered by First Nation people from across Australia, offered a way forward to conduct long overdue action on problems that afflict our country's least prosperous citizens.
It was the first time Indigenous Australia had come together to tell the rest of us exactly what it wanted and they delivered a passionate but measured statement of empowerment and called for a "Makarrata" an Arnhem Land word meaning "coming together after a struggle".
The closest concept in English would be "treaty" which would require constitutional change and the then-Turnbull government rejected the Uluru Statement out of hand saying it was neither "desirable nor capable of winning acceptance at referendum".
It made no effort to enlighten or educate, instead just baldly ruled out constitutional recognition and shoved the matter to the back of the too-hard basket.
But while federal parliament dithers, the states have taken on the challenge.
The Queensland government has signed "a statement of commitment" to reframe the relationship and appointed an Eminent Panel to lead a conversation and one took place in Mount Isa on Friday.
First Nations Queenslanders are twice as likely to have chronic kidney disease and the busiest part of Mount Isa hospital is its new renal unit. Last week the state education minister launched an Indigenous Education plan on Mornington Island to try to improve school attendance and education outcomes. Indigenous people are also over-represented in the local criminal justice system.
Eminent Panel co-chair Dr Jackie Huggins said a treaty was more than just symbolism - though that was important.
"A Treaty would bring a greater sense of empowerment for (Indigenous) people and would address one of the great historical wrongs in our country," Dr Huggins said.
It would also empower the rest of us. Witness New Zealand's pride in the Treaty of Waitangi. Or Australia's own joy in the overwhelming result of the 1967 referendum that allowed Indigenous people finally be counted in the census.
Indigenous Australia is calling for our help again.
"We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future," the Uluru statement concludes.
Let's get our boots on now.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
