Malcolm Fraser Quotes

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

Life wasn't meant to be easy.

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.

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.

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

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.

I want to catch Mr Whitlam with his pants down.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

People die because they find living too painful.

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

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