[Applause] my identity and my freedoms changed
my identity and my freedoms changed
my identity and my freedoms changed quite dramatically on the 10th of
quite dramatically on the 10th of
quite dramatically on the 10th of December in 1998 when I received a phone
December in 1998 when I received a phone
December in 1998 when I received a phone call after 39 years of working in South
call after 39 years of working in South
call after 39 years of working in South Africa I was told that if my family and
Africa I was told that if my family and
Africa I was told that if my family and I valued our lives we should leave the
I valued our lives we should leave the
I valued our lives we should leave the country right now I’ve been working for
country right now I’ve been working for
country right now I’ve been working for the independent mediation services of
the independent mediation services of
the independent mediation services of South Africa for and on behalf of the
South Africa for and on behalf of the
South Africa for and on behalf of the city of Cape Town and by quiet request
city of Cape Town and by quiet request
city of Cape Town and by quiet request from a man I admired more than any other
from a man I admired more than any other
from a man I admired more than any other Nelson Mandela the Commission’s work was
Nelson Mandela the Commission’s work was
Nelson Mandela the Commission’s work was to investigate the causes and identify
to investigate the causes and identify
to investigate the causes and identify the perpetrators of ongoing violence in
the perpetrators of ongoing violence in
the perpetrators of ongoing violence in two of the city’s Cape Town townships
Mandela was both a rebel and
Mandela was both a rebel and revolutionary his Gaza birth rat named
revolutionary his Gaza birth rat named
revolutionary his Gaza birth rat named Rowley starter literally means he who
Rowley starter literally means he who
Rowley starter literally means he who will shake the tree he was a rebel in
will shake the tree he was a rebel in
will shake the tree he was a rebel in that his use of the armed struggle in
that his use of the armed struggle in
that his use of the armed struggle in enforcing change in apartheid South
enforcing change in apartheid South
enforcing change in apartheid South Africa earned him a 27 year prison to
Africa earned him a 27 year prison to
Africa earned him a 27 year prison to him but he’s much better known for the
him but he’s much better known for the
him but he’s much better known for the leadership of his people away from
leadership of his people away from
leadership of his people away from vengeance after suppression oppression
vengeance after suppression oppression
vengeance after suppression oppression and repression a much easier thing to do
and repression a much easier thing to do
and repression a much easier thing to do toward reconciliation and it was his
toward reconciliation and it was his
toward reconciliation and it was his singular focus and his absolute clarity
singular focus and his absolute clarity
singular focus and his absolute clarity in the bringing down of the apartheid
in the bringing down of the apartheid
in the bringing down of the apartheid regime that taught me the courage to
regime that taught me the courage to
regime that taught me the courage to face the truth no matter what the cost
face the truth no matter what the cost
face the truth no matter what the cost so on that day reporting into the city
so on that day reporting into the city
so on that day reporting into the city of Cape Town on behalf of the Commission
of Cape Town on behalf of the Commission
of Cape Town on behalf of the Commission three of the perpetrators who the
three of the perpetrators who the
three of the perpetrators who the Commission had identified with sitting
Commission had identified with sitting
Commission had identified with sitting in those council chambers and clearly
in those council chambers and clearly
in those council chambers and clearly they didn’t like a message they were
they didn’t like a message they were
they didn’t like a message they were hearing and that put us on a number of
hearing and that put us on a number of
hearing and that put us on a number of different hit lists and turned us into
different hit lists and turned us into
different hit lists and turned us into migrants almost instantaneously today
migrants almost instantaneously today
migrants almost instantaneously today all over the world as we speak there are
all over the world as we speak there are
all over the world as we speak there are migrant refugees fleeing political and
migrant refugees fleeing political and
migrant refugees fleeing political and religious turmoil and we treat them with
religious turmoil and we treat them with
religious turmoil and we treat them with our separation estándar nationalist
our separation estándar nationalist
our separation estándar nationalist policies quite cruelly we fear that
policies quite cruelly we fear that
policies quite cruelly we fear that they’ll steal our jobs we fear that
they’ll steal our jobs we fear that
they’ll steal our jobs we fear that they’ll overrun the country with their
they’ll overrun the country with their
they’ll overrun the country with their religious fervour we fear that their
religious fervour we fear that their
religious fervour we fear that their values are so different and their
values are so different and their
values are so different and their numbers are so huge that they’ll swallow
numbers are so huge that they’ll swallow
numbers are so huge that they’ll swallow up our culture in one big gulp but the
up our culture in one big gulp but the
up our culture in one big gulp but the reality is quite different here’s a fact
reality is quite different here’s a fact
reality is quite different here’s a fact all of the people who’ve arrived on
all of the people who’ve arrived on
all of the people who’ve arrived on Australian shores to Deadwood not even
Australian shores to Deadwood not even
Australian shores to Deadwood not even fill the MCG fact we’re a micronation
fill the MCG fact we’re a micronation
fill the MCG fact we’re a micronation there are cities in China Japan South
there are cities in China Japan South
there are cities in China Japan South East Asia Mexico all with population
East Asia Mexico all with population
East Asia Mexico all with population counts far greater than our national
counts far greater than our national
counts far greater than our national head count so the facts allow the truth
head count so the facts allow the truth
head count so the facts allow the truth on a global scale there are six and a
on a global scale there are six and a
on a global scale there are six and a half so-called illegal so-called
half so-called illegal so-called
half so-called illegal so-called unregistered Mexican migrant workers
unregistered Mexican migrant workers
unregistered Mexican migrant workers working in Southern California providing
working in Southern California providing
working in Southern California providing more food to America than any other
more food to America than any other
more food to America than any other state in that nation and they’re all
state in that nation and they’re all
state in that nation and they’re all doing the work that Americans have
doing the work that Americans have
doing the work that Americans have refused to do before so these facts born
refused to do before so these facts born
refused to do before so these facts born out of fears of possibility rather than
out of fears of possibility rather than
out of fears of possibility rather than probability really deserve no place in
probability really deserve no place in
probability really deserve no place in our future build of a new age country in
our future build of a new age country in
our future build of a new age country in the work and if that’s the case we
the work and if that’s the case we
the work and if that’s the case we shouldn’t be throwing stones at those
shouldn’t be throwing stones at those
shouldn’t be throwing stones at those who find themselves in boats all over
who find themselves in boats all over
who find themselves in boats all over the world trying to find Shores on which
the world trying to find Shores on which
the world trying to find Shores on which to Beach their crumpled lands in my work
to Beach their crumpled lands in my work
to Beach their crumpled lands in my work that I do today working with leadership
that I do today working with leadership
that I do today working with leadership teams trying to help them deepen their
teams trying to help them deepen their
teams trying to help them deepen their dialogue and to build relationships of
dialogue and to build relationships of
dialogue and to build relationships of trust based on truth I am becoming more
trust based on truth I am becoming more
trust based on truth I am becoming more excited about the fact that we do in
excited about the fact that we do in
excited about the fact that we do in fact have the leadership capacity and we
fact have the leadership capacity and we
fact have the leadership capacity and we do have the leadership mettle we
do have the leadership mettle we
do have the leadership mettle we certainly have the moral imperative
certainly have the moral imperative
certainly have the moral imperative much more excitedly we have a historical
much more excitedly we have a historical
much more excitedly we have a historical model on which to build a future in 1948
model on which to build a future in 1948
model on which to build a future in 1948 three short years after the end of the
three short years after the end of the
three short years after the end of the Second World War the Snowy River
Second World War the Snowy River
Second World War the Snowy River mountains project recruited a hundred
mountains project recruited a hundred
mountains project recruited a hundred thousand workers two-thirds of which
thousand workers two-thirds of which
thousand workers two-thirds of which were migrant workers from 32 countries
were migrant workers from 32 countries
were migrant workers from 32 countries across war-torn Europe they came to
across war-torn Europe they came to
across war-torn Europe they came to start a new life but most importantly if
start a new life but most importantly if
start a new life but most importantly if we look back in history they became part
we look back in history they became part
we look back in history they became part of what was to become Australia’s
of what was to become Australia’s
of what was to become Australia’s proudest economic proudest engineering
proudest economic proudest engineering
proudest economic proudest engineering proudest environmental and proudest
proudest environmental and proudest
proudest environmental and proudest social economic feats of all time and
social economic feats of all time and
social economic feats of all time and history
history
history amongst them were two German ships one
amongst them were two German ships one
amongst them were two German ships one were went by the name of Karl Rick he
were went by the name of Karl Rick he
were went by the name of Karl Rick he was a carpenter and the other a fellow
was a carpenter and the other a fellow
was a carpenter and the other a fellow Heinberg in housing who has an excellent
Heinberg in housing who has an excellent
Heinberg in housing who has an excellent pilot but also an engineer imagine what
pilot but also an engineer imagine what
pilot but also an engineer imagine what life for them would have been like
life for them would have been like
life for them would have been like coming into an Australia where families
coming into an Australia where families
coming into an Australia where families had lost husbands and fathers and
had lost husbands and fathers and
had lost husbands and fathers and brothers and uncles and sons in that
brothers and uncles and sons in that
brothers and uncles and sons in that very bitter conflict it would have been
very bitter conflict it would have been
very bitter conflict it would have been an atmosphere in an environment ripe for
an atmosphere in an environment ripe for
an atmosphere in an environment ripe for vengeance and for vilification add to
vengeance and for vilification add to
vengeance and for vilification add to that life high up in the Snowy River
that life high up in the Snowy River
that life high up in the Snowy River mountains in a tinted camp in sub-zero
mountains in a tinted camp in sub-zero
mountains in a tinted camp in sub-zero temperatures
temperatures
temperatures having left your family behind in Europe
having left your family behind in Europe
having left your family behind in Europe as you came to start this new life it
as you came to start this new life it
as you came to start this new life it would have been isolating desolate
would have been isolating desolate
would have been isolating desolate lonely and totally not dissimilar to
lonely and totally not dissimilar to
lonely and totally not dissimilar to what our current refugees would be
what our current refugees would be
what our current refugees would be feeling today but funny enough when
feeling today but funny enough when
feeling today but funny enough when people look back the 60,000 two-thirds
people look back the 60,000 two-thirds
people look back the 60,000 two-thirds majority who’ve stayed in Australia they
majority who’ve stayed in Australia they
majority who’ve stayed in Australia they look back at anything it was a happy
look back at anything it was a happy
look back at anything it was a happy time unbelievable why because they were
time unbelievable why because they were
time unbelievable why because they were part of something that was great they
part of something that was great they
part of something that was great they were part of something that was going to
were part of something that was going to
were part of something that was going to become amazing in Australian history
become amazing in Australian history
become amazing in Australian history they were
they were
they were contributing they were respected there
contributing they were respected there
contributing they were respected there were brought into the community they
were brought into the community they
were brought into the community they were included and above all they were
were included and above all they were
were included and above all they were given hope imagine a world today if we
given hope imagine a world today if we
given hope imagine a world today if we embraced more people like Karlin Hine
embraced more people like Karlin Hine
embraced more people like Karlin Hine where we could build a future based on
where we could build a future based on
where we could build a future based on her which had an economic and an
her which had an economic and an
her which had an economic and an environmental slant which was
environmental slant which was
environmental slant which was sustainable now it really was an
sustainable now it really was an
sustainable now it really was an incredible feat the plan was to divert
incredible feat the plan was to divert
incredible feat the plan was to divert three major rivers into not only for
three major rivers into not only for
three major rivers into not only for agricultural irrigation but also for the
agricultural irrigation but also for the
agricultural irrigation but also for the generation of clean energy and
generation of clean energy and
generation of clean energy and electrical power it took 26 years to
electrical power it took 26 years to
electrical power it took 26 years to complete it was on time on budget and it
complete it was on time on budget and it
complete it was on time on budget and it has provided post-war sustainable
has provided post-war sustainable
has provided post-war sustainable employment it continues to do so it has
employment it continues to do so it has
employment it continues to do so it has a legacy today we’re about to put
a legacy today we’re about to put
a legacy today we’re about to put another 5,000 jobs into the same
another 5,000 jobs into the same
another 5,000 jobs into the same projects that continues to build and it
projects that continues to build and it
projects that continues to build and it continues to grow it is an incredible
continues to grow it is an incredible
continues to grow it is an incredible feat but most importantly it’s an social
feat but most importantly it’s an social
feat but most importantly it’s an social engineering prototype of warmth
engineering prototype of warmth
engineering prototype of warmth inclusivity generosity of spirit and
inclusivity generosity of spirit and
inclusivity generosity of spirit and open openness in society so what have we
open openness in society so what have we
open openness in society so what have we learned from our past and what are the
learned from our past and what are the
learned from our past and what are the congruence zhan across the globe today
congruence zhan across the globe today
congruence zhan across the globe today well as I said we’ve got government’s
well as I said we’ve got government’s
well as I said we’ve got government’s who are committing suicide every two
who are committing suicide every two
who are committing suicide every two three or four years we’ve got
three or four years we’ve got
three or four years we’ve got politicians from different but not so
politicians from different but not so
politicians from different but not so different political parties who publicly
different political parties who publicly
different political parties who publicly and personally Sledge each other on a
and personally Sledge each other on a
and personally Sledge each other on a per honor on a public forum who stand
per honor on a public forum who stand
per honor on a public forum who stand for little other than the next elections
for little other than the next elections
for little other than the next elections whilst they watch polls on judging on
whilst they watch polls on judging on
whilst they watch polls on judging on how popular they are with the electorate
how popular they are with the electorate
how popular they are with the electorate who actually by the way is incredibly
who actually by the way is incredibly
who actually by the way is incredibly alienated and a bit bored so if we let
alienated and a bit bored so if we let
alienated and a bit bored so if we let these politicians continue on and we
these politicians continue on and we
these politicians continue on and we remain in an epithet ik fog so to speak
remain in an epithet ik fog so to speak
remain in an epithet ik fog so to speak we’re going to continue to get
we’re going to continue to get
we’re going to continue to get increasing polarization in our
increasing polarization in our
increasing polarization in our governments and in our community
governments and in our community
governments and in our community we’re going to look and see increasing
we’re going to look and see increasing
we’re going to look and see increasing separation and rise of racism again in
separation and rise of racism again in
separation and rise of racism again in our societies we’re going to see a lack
our societies we’re going to see a lack
our societies we’re going to see a lack of focus on good social policy which
of focus on good social policy which
of focus on good social policy which helps to build nations and grow nations
helps to build nations and grow nations
helps to build nations and grow nations in incredibly exciting ways and rich
in incredibly exciting ways and rich
in incredibly exciting ways and rich ways with honesty and a continuing
ways with honesty and a continuing
ways with honesty and a continuing decline in our in our taxpayer base and
decline in our in our taxpayer base and
decline in our in our taxpayer base and a growing economic dead it isn’t a
a growing economic dead it isn’t a
a growing economic dead it isn’t a recipe for success it isn’t a recipe for
recipe for success it isn’t a recipe for
recipe for success it isn’t a recipe for building a nation of the future it is a
building a nation of the future it is a
building a nation of the future it is a recipe for disaster and it’s not what we
recipe for disaster and it’s not what we
recipe for disaster and it’s not what we need to leave as a legacy for our
need to leave as a legacy for our
need to leave as a legacy for our children so what do we need to do we
children so what do we need to do we
children so what do we need to do we need rebels and revolutionaries we need
need rebels and revolutionaries we need
need rebels and revolutionaries we need rebels who will stand up against the
rebels who will stand up against the
rebels who will stand up against the tide who will hold the walls push the
tide who will hold the walls push the
tide who will hold the walls push the moral boundaries and the social norms
moral boundaries and the social norms
moral boundaries and the social norms art into an open society that engages
art into an open society that engages
art into an open society that engages people that brings people in that is
people that brings people in that is
people that brings people in that is inclusive generous which gives people
inclusive generous which gives people
inclusive generous which gives people jobs those people who want jobs who will
jobs those people who want jobs who will
jobs those people who want jobs who will take those jobs and work hard for a
take those jobs and work hard for a
take those jobs and work hard for a future of hope if we do that then we’re
future of hope if we do that then we’re
future of hope if we do that then we’re talking about embracing inclusivity
talking about embracing inclusivity
talking about embracing inclusivity we’re talking about embracing diversity
we’re talking about embracing diversity
we’re talking about embracing diversity we’re talking about embracing migrant
we’re talking about embracing migrant
we’re talking about embracing migrant refugees now if you really think about
refugees now if you really think about
refugees now if you really think about it one in four of us today in this room
it one in four of us today in this room
it one in four of us today in this room were born overseas if we trace our
were born overseas if we trace our
were born overseas if we trace our histories and our pathways through our
histories and our pathways through our
histories and our pathways through our origins
origins
origins most of us other than the original land
most of us other than the original land
most of us other than the original land owners in this land are migrants so we
owners in this land are migrants so we
owners in this land are migrants so we need to recognize what it is that we
need to recognize what it is that we
need to recognize what it is that we have done and put our and these people
have done and put our and these people
have done and put our and these people in the Snowy River Mountains project
in the Snowy River Mountains project
in the Snowy River Mountains project made an indelible and undeniable mark on
made an indelible and undeniable mark on
made an indelible and undeniable mark on our cultural mix think great coffee
our cultural mix think great coffee
our cultural mix think great coffee think rape food we didn’t get that from
think rape food we didn’t get that from
think rape food we didn’t get that from our anglo-saxon forefathers
now one of my favorite quotes from
now one of my favorite quotes from Mandela 4 to be free is not merely to
Mandela 4 to be free is not merely to
Mandela 4 to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains but to live in a
cast off one’s chains but to live in a
cast off one’s chains but to live in a way that it respects and enhances the
way that it respects and enhances the
way that it respects and enhances the freedoms of others and you might add
freedoms of others and you might add
freedoms of others and you might add that respects and enhances the
that respects and enhances the
that respects and enhances the environment Barack Obama who was
environment Barack Obama who was
environment Barack Obama who was inspired by Nelson Mandela noted in his
inspired by Nelson Mandela noted in his
inspired by Nelson Mandela noted in his parting shot from Washington at the end
parting shot from Washington at the end
parting shot from Washington at the end of last year he said it is the corrosive
of last year he said it is the corrosive
of last year he said it is the corrosive voices of leadership today they are
voices of leadership today they are
voices of leadership today they are turning people of good character away
turning people of good character away
turning people of good character away from public service
from public service
from public service so our rebels and our revolutionaries
so our rebels and our revolutionaries
so our rebels and our revolutionaries who were asking to stand up and take the
who were asking to stand up and take the
who were asking to stand up and take the mantle of leadership of good moral
mantle of leadership of good moral
mantle of leadership of good moral character who will recall and rebuild a
character who will recall and rebuild a
character who will recall and rebuild a much prouder history in our nation we
much prouder history in our nation we
much prouder history in our nation we need to look back on today which will be
need to look back on today which will be
need to look back on today which will be our future history and we’ll need to
our future history and we’ll need to
our future history and we’ll need to look back and say we did the right thing
look back and say we did the right thing
look back and say we did the right thing absolutely Tom little who is a snowy
absolutely Tom little who is a snowy
absolutely Tom little who is a snowy River mountains Foreman at the time
River mountains Foreman at the time
River mountains Foreman at the time reflected back on his time on the
reflected back on his time on the
reflected back on his time on the project and said I had four years in the
project and said I had four years in the
project and said I had four years in the Australian Army I could have hated those
Australian Army I could have hated those
Australian Army I could have hated those German ships just as much as anybody but
German ships just as much as anybody but
German ships just as much as anybody but I couldn’t see the scenes in it the war
I couldn’t see the scenes in it the war
I couldn’t see the scenes in it the war was over we had a job to do and they
was over we had a job to do and they
was over we had a job to do and they were there to kick off and start a new
were there to kick off and start a new
were there to kick off and start a new life so let’s do it
life so let’s do it
life so let’s do it [Applause]
”
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