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ALS welcomes Aboriginal Languages Act proclamation
The Aboriginal Legal Service has called the proclamation of the Aboriginal Languages Act a “way forward in securing the preservation, protection and promotion” of Indigenous languages in the state.
Jerome Doraisamy
The Aboriginal Languages Act 2017, which became law just over two years ago, was the first piece of Australian legislation to acknowledge that Aboriginal people are the custodians of Aboriginal languages and further strengthens connections to Aboriginal culture and identity.
Commenting on the proclamation on the act on 5 March 2020, ALS chairperson Brendan Moyle said that the act provided the legislative framework to allow Aboriginal communities to revive and reinvigorate over 35 languages and 100 dialects in NSW.
“The ALS commends the Berejiklian government for its acknowledgment that Aboriginal languages are an integral part of the cultural heritage of NSW, with the proclamation of this historic act,” he said.
“Importantly for our mob, the act recognises that, as a result of past government decisions, Aboriginal languages were almost lost. But this historic law now allows a pathway for Aboriginal people, particularly our youth, to be reconnected with their culture and heritage by the reawakening, growing and nurturing of the languages of our First peoples.”
“We welcome the creation of an Aboriginal-led trust which will be responsible for the state’s Aboriginal Languages Strategy and assist in the allocation of funding for the promotion of Aboriginal languages. For this to work, it is imperative that Aboriginal languages are in the ownership and control of Aboriginal people,” Mr Moyle continued.
“The government must ensure that an effective, fully funded strategy is developed and implemented through Aboriginal leadership in order to achieve the best outcomes for our people, now and into the future.”
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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