By Callum Ludwig
The Australian Greens party has announced an all First Nations senate ticket in the leadup to the federal election.
Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe, a Gunnai, Gunditjmara, and Djab Wurrung woman selected Taungurung man and Healesville resident Adam Frogley, Gunditjmara, Keerray Wurrung, Peek Wurrung, Djab Wurrung woman Sissy Austin, and Wiradjuri, nonbinary person Zeb Payne in a Victorian first.
National Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Team at the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) Mr Frogley said it was an honour to be considered and selected for the ticket.
Lydia, the powerful senator she is, Sissy campaigning for the Djab Wurrung and Zeb putting their hand up is wonderful for people who are trying to be recognised in what they feel is their true sex,” he said.
“It shows we have more than enough people within the Aboriginal community to stand up at any stage and be able to take on the responsibility of running for the Upper or Lower House.”
The Australian Greens and the senate ticket have indicated a national treaty between Federal Government and First Nations clans Australia-wide is a priority for them.As cultural differences and historical experiences are so varied between First Nations clans, they aim for separate treaties to be settled between each community.
Mr Frogley said the treaties are something he has been campaigning for for many years and believes we need to focus on what the future for Aboriginal Australians looks like.
“It is so the Aboriginal community can try to move out of being stuck in the political cycle which we’ve seen in many years gone by,” he said.
“Where we can actually look to get out of the criminal justice system, we can look to get away from the welfare system and actually look to become citizens of the community that works together.”
Greens candidate for Casey Jenny Game said she likes to think the Greens set standards, and the party sets the bar on issues of representation in government.
“Our policies are about saving the planet, and this is what we need to do we care about people on the planet,” she said.
“I think the fight for indigenous rights has a long way to go. I think the senate ticket and the introduction of treaties is an important step.”
Mr Frogley has a rich history in the area, descending from the family who owned the Healesville Cordial Products store (HCP), which was previously a camping spot set up in 1938 by the Frogleys until they sold it in 1986. The other side of Mr Frogley’s family was situated at nearby Corranderk, which was once home to an Aboriginal station closed permanently in 1924.
Mr Frogley appreciated the tight-knit community of First Nations people in and around Healesville and the general acceptance and support of Aboriginal Australians in the area.
“I knew Aunty Joy Murphy through my family, and Aunty Dot Peters would come and teach us about Aboriginal culture when I was in primary school,” he said.
“The overall links and my links to the community are fairly strong. And I know those people in the community would love to see greater representation.”
