STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator THORPE (Victoria—Independent VIC Whip) (13:38): I'm going to read part of a statement written by Aunty Sue Haseldine, a senior Kokatha elder from far-west South Australia. She says: To all the people that have put their hands up to test their rockets on my Country, at the so-called Koonibba Test Range, I say no. You didn't ask consent.

I didn't give you permission to go ahead and devastate my country and my stories and my sacred sites, my dreamtime. I'm saying no to the whole lot of you: ADF, Space Agency, the Australian Government, Southern Launch, Thales, Varda, and all the other companies who profit from war. Munda yumadoo illiga—leave the land as it is.

Take your rubbish, you war mongering machines and your rockets. Take it away from my Country. You're not welcome.

Our major sites are out there—our rock holes—these are valuable to us spiritually. It's a crucial ecosystem, home to many important and endangered species. I don't own that land.

The land owns me. And it has to be kept for the next generation. They keep saying it's uninhabited country.

That's not true. I've been out there on Country, looking after my sacred sites. You're trying to deprive Googatha people from maintaining their country and keeping their culture alive.

I say no more. You have no consent. Cease your operations immediately.

Return Googatha Country to its Traditional Owners. Ministers Ayres and Watt, this is on you. (Time expired)