Cathy McGowan has revealed the decision of former Indi MP Sophie Mirabella to refuse to be involved in an apology to the stolen generations was part of what drove the desire to replace her at the 2013 election.
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In making her final speech on the issue of "closing the gap" in Parliament on Wednesday, Ms McGowan reflected on the history of mending relationships with the Aboriginal community.
“The reaction in my community was quite one of horror because (Mrs Mirabella) was our representative and she wasn’t there," she said.
"I was part of the general movement that said that wasn’t good enough, we didn’t want a representative that wouldn’t represent us. I have to say, that was one of the driving forces that encouraged me to put my hand up.”
Ms McGowan thanked the Aboriginal networks in Indi who welcomed her into their community and provided her with policy advice over the past six years and those who participated in Constitutional Recognition Relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples hearings last year.
"What a wonderful thing it is to think that our culture and our nation is formed and the heart of us is our Aboriginal traditions," she said.
"I live in a really populist part of North East Victoria and we don't have our local history of that white settlement.
"I'm going to work with my community over the next 10 years to document it and begin that process of truth telling."
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