We could try and establish a world in which the great and the powerful adhere to that international law which they require ordinary mortals to adhere to. In other words, there is one international law, and even America and even Russia and China and Japan must adhere to it, and Australia must adhere to it.

Malcolm Fraser

Reconciliation requires changes of heart and spirit, as well as social and economic change. It requires symbolic as well as practical action.

Malcolm Fraser

spirit action heart

Life wasn't meant to be easy.

Malcolm Fraser

meant-to-be party easy

At the moment people get on boats because they flee terror at home and believe the many years' long wait in UNHCR camps is not a valid option, especially if they have children in their care. After the Vietnam War, Australia took a larger humanitarian intake than at any other period in our history. The Australian community accepted that. They were told why we needed to do it, and why it was the only ethical decent policy that a wealthy advanced country should adopt.

Malcolm Fraser

leadership country children

We are lagging far behind comparable countries in overcoming the disadvantages Indigenous people face.

Malcolm Fraser

overcoming country people

Most asylum seekers do get permanent visas, so the earlier they receive the appropriate help, the faster they will become part of the community. They'll get jobs and start paying taxes too. They will see Australia as a nation with a sense of care and concern. That's so important for a cohesive society. It helps build a sense of belonging. And in terms of common decency, it's what should be happening... For God's sake, this is Australia, people should be treated with decency and humanity.

Malcolm Fraser

australia common-decency jobs

Solutions will not be found while Indigenous people are treated as victims for whom someone else must find solutions.

Malcolm Fraser

victim found people

Genocide involves the attempt to achieve the disappearance of a group by whatever means. It does not have to be violent, it could be a combination of policies that would lead to a certain group dying out.

Malcolm Fraser

groups dying mean

There are no quick fixes to Indigenous poverty and social disaster.

Malcolm Fraser

disaster poverty social

We are seeing healing among the stolen generations, and initiatives which are enabling Indigenous people to make their distinctive contribution to our national life.

Malcolm Fraser

generations healing people

Yet there are thousands of Indigenous people searching for family members.

Malcolm Fraser

indigenous members people

He (Gorton) is not fit to hold the great office of Prime Minister.

Malcolm Fraser

fit party office

Over 120 Aboriginal communities run their own health services - some have been doing so for 30 years. They struggle with difficult medical problems. They also try to deal with counselling, stolen generations issues, family relationships, violence, suicide prevention.

Malcolm Fraser

suicide struggle running

The great task of statesmanship is to apply past lessons to new situations, to draw correct analogies to understand and act upon present forces, to recognise the need for change.

Malcolm Fraser

tasks leadership past

I think the climate is too important to say we are going to wait until all our economic woes are over before we act effectively.

Malcolm Fraser

important waiting thinking

I want to catch Mr Whitlam with his pants down.

Malcolm Fraser

pants party want

People die because they find living too painful.

Malcolm Fraser

dies painful people

Health economists have estimated that an injection of $250 million per year in Indigenous clinical care, and $50 million in preventative care, is required to provide services at the same level as for any other group with the health conditions of Indigenous Australians.

Malcolm Fraser

levels care years

Development requires modification and transformation of the environment... the planet's capacity to support its people us being irreversibly reduced by the destruction and degradation of the biosphere and the need to understand the problem and take corrective action is becoming urgent.

Malcolm Fraser

support people needs

Maoris now own over half the commercial fishing industry in New Zealand.

Malcolm Fraser

industry half fishing

Sorry Day falls on the eve of Reconciliation Week, giving us the chance to ask whether we are making progress in the wider challenge of reconciling Indigenous and other Australians.

Malcolm Fraser

sorry giving fall