The inaugural Mabo Oration was held on 3 June 2005 in Brisbane and was given by Noel Pearson (Director Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership)
The event, held in partnership with the Queensland Performing Arts Corporation (QPAC), was chaired by his honour Chief Justice de Jersey AC. It attracted a venue-filling 800 people, including many members of the Mabo family, Indigenous community leaders and members, dignatories including former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, judiciary, government ministers and Members of Parliament, community and business leaders, school and university students, and the general community.
Mr Pearson said the principles established by Mabo represented the best opportunity for resolution of the colonial grievance between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and noted that he'd often referred to Mabo as 'the once in a nation's lifetime opportunity'. He believes Mabo is our 'cornerstone for reconciliation'.
The title of the Oration was Peoples, Nations and Peace.
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