'Father of reconciliation' Pat Dodson slams racial superiority in maiden speech to Parliament

Western Australian Labor Senator Pat Dodson has vowed to quash racial injustice and push for greater equality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in his maiden speech to Parliament.

Labor Senator Pat Dodson makes his maiden speech in the Senate at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday. Source: AAP

'Father of reconciliation' Pat Dodson said he would aim to ensure the Indigenous community were "key decision-makers and empowered partners in the program to transform current levels of injustice and bureaucratic nomination".

Senator Dodson described that injustice as having arisen from past laws that were based on "ingrained paternalism and racial superiority, denying our shared humanity".

"Such mindsets justified repeated acts of greed, grabbed the lands of our people without negotiation, settlement or compensation," he said.

He lambasted the Australian government over claims of sovereignty that have “never been ceded or surrendered” to past assimilation policies including the forced removal of Indigenous children away from their parents to live with families of European descent.

"Those laws built bureaucratic systems and processes that controlled the lives of our people, stifling life choices, creating sorrow and pain," he said. “These laws and regulations cannot emerge once more in our precious democracy.”

While parliament is a “sanctuary of free speech,” he said, “debates will however need to be informed by the fundamental principles of respect.”

Mr Dodson, who is known around the country for the work he has undertaken to bridge the divide between Indigenous and other Australians, said he would continue the debate around whether Indigenous people should be recognised in the Constitution.

He said he wanted to listen further to the debate around a potential treaty, a legally binding agreement between the Indigenous community and the government to help uphold rights, and tackle high incarceration rates.

Indigenous people comprise 27 per cent of the national prison population while they only make up 2 per cent of Australia’s total population.

In March, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten heralded Senator Dodson's move to the Senate as a "great day".

"This is a great day for the Labor Party, for Western Australia, for the Senate and the parliament and indeed for our democracy," Mr Shorten said.

"Pat's decision to seek a role in our parliament as a Senator for the Labor party is a win for Australia."

Mr Dodson replaced Joe Bullock.