Permanent doctors for Tamworth
Further to the letter published on Saturday 29th June in the Northern Daily Leader by Lucas Preston re permanent doctors in Tamworth.
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I strongly believe that Tamworth is in need of a permanent lung specialist, given that the closest lung specialist is in Newcastle, which is not that convenient when you are in constant care and need of a consultation.
With the population needs of a lung specialist in Tamworth this should be a priority for the NSW Health.
Judy Perry,
Tamworth
Naidoc Week
In the spirit of NAIDOC week I would firstly like to acknowledge the Kamilaroi people as the traditional custodians of the land we live on. I wish to show respect to all of our aboriginal community's elders both past and present.
This week is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders, their language, their rich culture, and their history. Sometimes a very dark and frightening history.
I am, and have always been a proud Australian, proud to live in a country where I am free, but in recent years I have become disillusioned with our "Liberal Democracy".
It is that democracy that affords me the right to write this letter and have it published in a public forum, the same democracy affords you the right to disagree with me, and the same gives you the right to burn the flag should you feel so inclined.
It is also the same democracy that has refused representation to parliament for aboriginal people.
2017 was the year when the Uluru statement from the heart called for a first nations voice to parliament.
The voice to parliament would be a representative body giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders a say in law and policy affecting them.
Enshrined in the constitution, it would become an institution of lasting significance for First Nations and all Australians. The government threw it in the bin overnight.
Now, in 2019, more than 50 years after our constitution was changed to recognise aboriginals as people rather than flora and fauna it is time to give them their own voice.
A voice that can be heard around the nation, one that can not only contribute but add to our democracy.
Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders deserve to have their stories told and heard.
They deserve to have their truth told.
New Zealand have a treaty with the Maori people. The share their songs, their culture, their language.
They celebrate Waitangi Day, commemorating the establishment of their treaty. They sing their national anthem in English and Maori, they have a redress scheme.
What is holding Australia back from embracing a culture that was here for 60,000+ years before the white man?
We need to work together. We can be better than this. It's time for a referendum to change our constitution to recognise our first nations people.
Voice. Treaty. Truth.
Lucas Preston,
Tamworth
Have your say
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