With Honesty and No Spin

Professor Mick Dodson has accepted the award of Australian of the Year in the same style that has characterised his career as an Indigenous statesman. He immediately called for

• a change to the January 26 date of Australia Day which Aboriginal Australians see as “Invasion Day”
• monetary compensation for the Stolen Generations
• bringing the Northern Territory Intervention into line with International Conventions on Human Rights.

As has been the case for all of his career Professor Dodson states obvious truths that may unsettle us but ultimately have to be acknowledged. In this Professor Mick Dodson is the opposite of a politician, he is brutally honest. He cannot be otherwise.

We may think here of the deep conversations that Professor Dodson must have had about accepting the Australian of the Year award. He tells us he considered not accepting it. But in keeping with the generosity and humility of Aboriginal people he accepted it. We can all be grateful he did.

Professor Dodson is in my view the first choice made through the various committees at State and Federal level which really reflects what this award should be all about. In recent times sportsmen, scientists, musicians, doctors have all been worthy winners. But Professor Dodson is someone who may unsettle our world view but will make the country better as a result. He is the kind of person that represents the best spirit of Australia.