In summary

  • Fred Chaney AO, gave the address at the 2024 Swinburne Annual Reconciliation Lecture
  • Fred discussed ‘Reconciliation from one non-Aboriginal person’s perspective’
  • The Swinburne Annual Reconciliation Lecture is organised by the National Centre for Reconciliation Practice and aims to advance community understanding of reconciliation

“The biggest gap that remains to be closed is the gap between government intentions and the way government actually acts.” Fred Chaney AO opened the 2024 Swinburne Annual Reconciliation Lecture with a powerful statement.

Drawing from over 50 years of advocacy, Fred reflected in his address on "the intolerable gap" between the living conditions of Australia's First Nations people and the rest of the country.

As a founding co-chair of Reconciliation Australia and an early advocate for Aboriginal voting rights, Fred’s hard work in support of often marginalised people has never faltered. His contributions include establishing the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia, serving as Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and holding key positions such as Deputy President of the National Native Title Tribunal.

Fred acknowledged that while “we have and will continue to make real progress” there remains “a hell of a lot to be done”.

He encouraged attendees to read the 2020 National Agreement on Closing the Gap, noting the agreement captured “reality” as he sees it.

The Agreement states it “arises from a commitment from all Australian governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives to a fundamentally new way of developing and implementing policies and programs that impact on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This Agreement also stems from the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. It recognises that structural change in the way Governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is needed to close the gap.”

Fred concluded the address with an impactful call to action. “I think we should all be demanding that governments behave as they said they would behave in the Agreement in 2020, it’s a very good agreement,” he shared.

“They put their names to it. They should do it. We as citizens should insist they do it.”

Watch Fred Chaney AO's full address

The Swinburne Annual Reconciliation Lecture is hosted by the Moondani Toombadool Centre and the National Centre for Reconciliation Practice. The annual lecture is an integral part of Swinburne’s Reconciliation Plan. It seeks to deepen national understanding of reconciliation and promote systemic change through engagement, outreach, education, and research.

Mr Fred Chaney AO delivering the 2024 Swinburne Annual Reconciliation Lecture to a sold-out audience.

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