Paul Zahra, ARA CEO
Retail trade is often perceived as a western construct. But we certainly weren’t the first traders on this land.
As early as the 1700’s, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people traded with fisherman from Makassar and our Asian neighbours further afield. Before that, there is evidence of trade between European explorers and Indigenous people on the west coast.
And before that, we know that Australia’s First Nations peoples established a sophisticated network of trading paths that facilitated the exchange of goods, culture and knowledge across our vast continent for thousands of years.
This role, connecting people and communities through trade, is something that Australia’s $400 billion retail sector has in common with Australia’s First Nations.
Retail has a profound influence on society and now has a unique opportunity to support and advance reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
As the country ponders the referendum to establish a First Nations Voice to Parliament, we must ask ourselves the question: “What do we need to fix?”
The answer is a lot.
What we’re doing is not working; and the facts are shameful and disturbing.
The most recent Closing the Gap report confirms that:
- Life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is between 7.8 and 8.6 years shorter than the wider population.
- While Indigenous people represent 3% of our community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people tragically account for about 50% of the country’s suicides between the ages of 15 and 44.
- For every hundred-thousand adults in Australia, there are 2,223 Indigenous people in prison in comparison to 164 non-Indigenous people.
These are fundamental societal failures, and we need to do better.
We need to reconcile with the past and focus our efforts on supporting reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, now and into the future.
For me, it’s a fight for equality. Reconciliation is about acknowledging centuries of systematic racism, oppression and disposition of Australia’s First Nations peoples and taking personal responsibility to drive positive change within one’s sphere of influence.
Whilst many organisations are keen to do more to support reconciliation and improve outcomes for First Nations people, fewer than 1,500 organisations have a Reconciliation Action Plan in place – a commitment that is recognised as the cornerstone of progressing respectful, mutually-beneficial relationships between First Nations people and the broader community.
I am proud that the ARA is one of those organisations.
I’m also proud that we have publicly supported the Uluru Statement from the Heart including the establishment of a First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution.
The Voice is nothing new.
Indigenous people have been calling for a voice for more than a century. It will simply provide the mechanism for First Nations people to have a say about how to address the issues that affect them.
Whilst research shows that the majority of First Nations people support the Voice to Parliament, we also acknowledge the challenge that lies ahead in securing success in the upcoming referendum.
And we take our lead from those in the community who say that establishing the Voice is not enough in isolation – it must lead to more profound changes that benefits the communities it aims to serve.
However, it is an important start and the benefits of delivering on the promise of the Uluru Statement in this historic year have the potential to be transformative.
That’s why the ARA will be lending its support to the cause.
Reconciliation, and the benefits it delivers, addresses social injustices. Supporting the rights, wellbeing and empowerment of Indigenous people is an important driver in ensuring equality, respect and dignity for all.
In speaking at our annual CEO Lunch last week, Indigenous thought leader and change maker Jason Timor said that “Australia is the land of the fair go for all but not everyone in our First Nations community is currently getting a fair go.”
I have to agree.
We will not succeed in our mission to create a more sustainable, more inclusive sector without acknowledging the needs of Indigenous Australians and working to address the systemic failures that continue to result in social and economic imbalances that place many Indigenous people at a significant disadvantage.
However, the reasons for reconciliation and recognition stem far beyond moral decency.
Retailers are Australia’s largest employers, largest buyers and largest sellers, supporting people and communities right across the country.
As a sector, we have an obligation and opportunity to use this scale to drive positive change for mutual benefit: by providing meaningful work opportunities for Indigenous job seekers while also growing our candidate pool; by engaging Indigenous businesses while diversifying our supply chains; and by ensuring that First Nations consumers see themselves reflected in the brands they shop with.
In our recently launched position statement on reconciliation and recognition, we acknowledge that this is a shared journey, requiring authentic action by non-Indigenous people and continued generosity of spirit from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
For our part, we’re urging our sector to get informed, get involved and step up to the challenge so we can we forge a path towards reconciliation for the benefit of all Australians.
