Who's responsible? You, me, the government, the police, him, her, that one sitting there, the drunk in the park, the hooker, the housewife, the politician, the taxi driver, the bus driver, the preacher, the teacher? The Asian, the Italian, the Greek, the English, the Irish, the Brazilian, the Indian, the Malaysian, the Chinese, the European, the American, the Scot? Let me tell you, you are all of you, each and every single one and every other nationality that I haven't mentioned, you're responsible.
Responsible for this land and the people in it. Every single person. It's not good enough to come to a new land and claim it for your own. Ownership is responsibility and accountability. Don't tell me you're doing the right thing because you have a job and you bought your own home and your kids are going to school and getting their education. Responsible is the acknowledgment that Cook stole this land, that the man was a thief and a liar. That the history books got it wrong and still they tell a lie. He and his people raped and slaughtered, massacred and poisoned. He stole a land that didn't belong to King George. Didn't belong to the crown. Don't tell me you're responsible when you sit back in your office or your cab or your classroom and deny the Indigenous people of this land, human rights, equal rights, sovereignty.
The Australian governments past and present continually steal our land, our people, our children, our culture, our heritage, our history. Made in the policies of genocide. Don't tell me you don't know. 'Responsible' is learning this country, sharing the stories, sharing the pain and the hurt. Sharing the untruths. Who's responsible? You are! If you call this country home, you are. You came to the lucky country to make a new home. The lucky country where? For who? Not me, I'm Aboriginal, you, maybe you're a migrant, you'll get the jobs, you'll learn the skills, you'll get the recognition and the acknowledgment. You tell me the country, your country was in trouble fighting a war, a poverty so you left came here.
What for? A new life, a new start, opportunities for you, your wife and your children, then your mother, your father, auntie, uncle. You'll bring them all here cause Australia's the lucky country, the lucky country for you and yours. You'll fly your flag and have it recognised, you'll practice your culture and have it shared. You'll celebrate your day of religion or your culture. Maybe all your supporters will paint themselves different colours, the way that the Irish do, green and it will be seen on TV.
'Responsible?' Who's responsible, you are! The moment you walked upon this land, the moment you took your first breath. The moment you called Australia home, 'you're responsible.' The moment you decided to better yourself in this great land.
And
Fine, that's fine with me just don't do it on the backs of the Blacks.
The original owners of this land.
