Queensland Government Recognition Statement, Australian South Sea Islander Community, 2000

On 7 September 2000, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and the Queensland Parliament in bipartisan solidarity formally recognised the Australian South Sea Islander Community as a distinct cultural group. This followed years of marginalisation and discrimination and was a significant event in gaining recognition and respect.

In 2000, the Queensland Government recognised that we, the descendants, Australian South Sea Islanders have our own distinct culture that has modified and adapted itself to exist within an environment that only wanted us for hard work. When they decided they didn’t want our community anymore and wanted us to disappear, we didn’t want to go. 

Photograph by Jeff Wright, Collection of the Queensland Museum