Fed: 2020 summit opens with welcome to country

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2008
Fed: 2020 summit opens with welcome to country

CANBERRA, April 19 AAP - Draped in a possum fur cape, Ngambri elder Matilda House-Williams
today welcomed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and 1,000 delegates to her country for the 2020
Summit.

She said she had high hopes for this gathering of Australia's best and brightest.

"The 2020 summit is a chance for Australians from all walks of life to put towards
their ideas for building a modern Australia and for us to get ready for the challenges
of the 21st century," she said.

"I know all of you have great ideas and that the challenges over the weekend will
be to try and capture the ones we think will make the most difference to us."

Ms House-Williams said she had worked throughout her life towards making a difference
and helping others.

She said she had seen her proud, smart, courageous and good people marginalised and
forced to try and make a living on the edges of this rich nation.

"It doesn't make sense to me and it does not make sense to you or you would not be
here today with the ideas to make a Australia a place we are all proud of," she said.

Ms House-Williams said her interest would be focused on talks about keeping indigenous
people out of jail - and if they were in prison, making sure they didn't die there.

She said she also wanted to see her people healthy.

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KEYWORD: SUMMIT OPEN

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