Tuesday 8 July 2025

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Honourable Dan Purdie MP; Representing the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Civic Cabinet Chair for Transport and Councillor for Enoggera, Councillor Andrew Wines; Acting Queensland Police Commissioner, Shane Chelepy APM; all Elders present, including our flag raisers today, Uncle Steve Watson and Aunty Colleen McLennan; Officers, Indigenous and non-Indigenous; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I wish to first acknowledge the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here today. I also acknowledge Creative Nations for their welcome and for the Smoking Ceremony, and I thank Aunty Rose Elu for her Torres Strait Island blessing.

It has been very moving to witness this morning’s solemn flag-raising ceremony and to observe a minute’s silence in honour of Elders who have passed.

I thank Acting Commissioner Shane Chelepy for the invitation to join you to mark the beginning of NAIDOC week 2025.

This year is an important anniversary, marking half a century of honouring, celebrating and elevating Indigenous history, culture and achievements.

Over those 50 years, NAIDOC has fought hard and consistently for Indigenous rights and recognition, and while this significant anniversary encourages us to look back and reflect on the challenges and achievements of those five decades of struggle, it also provides an ideal opportunity to focus on the journey ahead.

That focus on the future is clearly and powerfully expressed in the NAIDOC theme this year: The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy.

Like all of you, I have great faith in the strong young Indigenous leaders of today who are continuing the fearless advocacy of previous generations and helping to build a future characterised by mutual respect.

NAIDOC week and this flag-raising ceremony are particularly important for the Queensland Police Service as it unites the Service not only in celebrating Indigenous history and culture, but in recognising the critical importance of embracing diversity, promoting equality, and building and sustaining positive engagement with our First Nations community in Queensland.

In my previous career as Chief Health Officer, I was very pleased to see the establishment of the First Nations Division in 2020.

Five years on, as Governor, I have been equally pleased to the see the success of efforts by the Service to foster stronger connections and mutual understanding with First Nations communities, especially the release last year of the Reframing of the Relationship Plan, with its strong guiding principles and commitment to continual improvement.

It has also been very pleasing to see the commitment to increasing the representation of First Nations people in the Service and in leadership positions through the First Nations Recruit Preparation Pathway and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Career Pathways program.

Progress takes time, commitment, patience and perseverance, but, with a strong policy framework and innovations such as the Cultural Safety Framework, it is happening, as it did with female recruits.

I congratulate everyone concerned on the success to date and, on behalf of all Queenslanders, thank them for their commitment to achieving those goals.

The road towards equality, reconciliation and mutual understanding is not an easy one and while, as individuals, we are all committed to those goals, ultimate success will require ongoing hard work and determination from us all.

Every member of the Queensland Police Service has a role in advancing cultural leadership and capability and in ensuring engagement with First Nations communities is respectful and effective.

In that work, you can be assured that you will always have the support of the Governor.

Happy NAIDOC Week.