However,as Nile,87,heads toward the end of his 40-year parliamentary career,he and Greenwich have forged an unlikely alliance through a shared passion for Indigenous rights and reconciliation.
An unlikely alliance between MPs Fred Nile and Alex Greenwich will see a significant new bill introduced to NSW parliament.Oscar Coleman
The pair will next week introduce a significant new bill to parliament,which would bring NSW in line with the rest of Australia to reform the protection of Indigenous culture and heritage.
Nile’s Culture is Identity Bill would prevent the destruction of Aboriginal heritage by handing custodianship of sites,objects and remains to a new independent agency,the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council.
Any permits to move,harm or destroy any objects or remains would need to be approved by the council in consultation with the Aboriginal stakeholders.
Nile said he had been working with First Nations people for decades,and particularly since 1983 when he was a supporter of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act that passed NSW parliament.
Christian Democrat MP Fred Nile has fought many of the reforms introduced by Alex Greenwich.Getty
“The Culture is Identity Bill is the culmination of my life’s work and public ministry,” Nile said.
“I have listened to the Aboriginal community for over 40 years and they want self-determination. My bill provides true custodianship of Aboriginal cultural heritage to the Aboriginal community rather than Macquarie Street politicians and their departments.”
Nile said the bill would “greatly further the legislative conversation towards self-determination and most importantly an Indigenous Voice in parliament”.
After Greenwich ushered through two divisive bills – the decriminalisation of abortion and the legalisation of voluntary assisted dying – Nile asked Greenwich to join him in supporting his bill in the lower house.
Greenwich has ushered through two divisive bills – the decriminalisation of abortion and the legalisation of voluntary assisted dying.Brook Mitchell
“Reverend Nile and I hope to demonstrate that people across the political spectrum can work together to achieve meaningful steps towards reconciliation and self-determination for our First Nations people,” Greenwich said.
“True reconciliation is not only about apologising for past wrongs,but preventing future ones from happening,and that principle is at the heart of this bill,” he said.
“I’ll work with Reverend Nile,the government,and all members of parliament this term to advance self-determination and protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage.”
Indigenous leader Roy Ah-See said NSW was the only jurisdiction in Australia that did not have laws to protect Aboriginal culture and heritage.
“The Culture is Identity Bill closes that gap. That is why I am supporting this landmark legislation,” Ah-see said.
NSW Aboriginal Land Council chair Danny Chapman said current NSW laws to manage and protect Aboriginal culture and heritage were “outdated,inadequate and long-overdue”.
“For many decades[we] have called on the NSW parliament and the NSW government to pursue robust new legislation to better protect Aboriginal culture and heritage in NSW and include Aboriginal people in decision-making processes,” Chapman said.
However,he said NSW remained the only state to continue to manage Aboriginal culture and heritage through flora and fauna legislation under the National Parks and Wildlife Act.
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