I thank the Senate today for this opportunity on behalf of the families, the Warlpiri families and the Gurindji families and I acknowledge the deep loss as well for our fellow senator, Senator Nampijinpa Price and her families.
As a Yanyuwa Garrwa woman and as Senator for the Northern Territory and Minister for Indigenous Australians, I rise today to share my heart break and extend my deepest condolences to Kumanjayi Little Baby’s mum, her brother, her family, who loved this little girl so much.
I reach out to the people of Alice Springs, to every single person involved in the search. Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people from right around came together from all walks of life and to each and every one of you involved, thank you.
In the days and the hours that you put into looking for this little baby girl.
To my constituents in Alice Springs/Mparntwe and across the Northern Territory, they are devastated that this could happen in their community.
To First Nations people across the country who feel this loss so intensely and to the whole Australian community, who have been shattered by news of the loss.
This nationwide sorrow was demonstrated by the sea of pink that swept the country on Thursday night. Gatherings of reflection and remembrance for the loss of this little girl.
It has been heartening to see hundreds of Australians take part in these vigils, standing together and supporting each other. It has enabled the families who have come together to know that they are not alone.
Whether it was in the centre, where Special Envoy Scrymgour, Senator Price and the Member for Berowra were in Alice Springs, whether it was in Perth, in the west where I know you, President, and Senator Cox and the Member for Perth gathered with the community.
Whether it was in Melbourne in the south-east where I know Senator Stewart was with the Member for Cooper, Assistant Minister Kearney or whether it was in the desert in Yuendumu where Warlpiri families put together a beautiful pink shrine to this beautiful girl.
In Darwin an enormous crowd gathered on the grounds outside parliament in quiet reflection and I attended with my girls who are only a few years older than Kumanjayi Little Baby, bringing the loss of this young life to gut-wrenching reality.
And in this grief it is also heartening to remember that in the search, as I said, the community of volunteers.
But it was right across Australia, people reached out and I thank all those Australians who reached out to both my office and also to that of Marion Scrymgour.
I pay my tribute to them, hundreds of people, volunteers and police and people from all walks of life.
The search ended in heartbreak but it does not diminish the determination, President, of those who dropped everything to assist in the search and I want to use this opportunity to thank them again.
That community effort helps us all to remember that this little baby girl isn't just a headline or a statistic.
She was a little girl, as important as any other, and she was so loved.
In the words of her mum, whom I spent time with, and which were read at the vigil in Alice,
'I want you all to know that my heart is broken into a million pieces and I want you to know that I'm having trouble knowing how I can repair it and how I can live without my baby girl.
She loved cuddling puppies. She loved watching Bluey and Masha and the Bear.
She was my little princess. My princess who loved the colour pink. She also loved the colours of the rainbow.
For all these reasons, I ask that her short life not be used by any politician for reasons that do not honour and respect my baby girl.'
President, these are difficult days but I do thank the Senate.
I thank my colleagues who have reached out and we know that we all send our strength to the families in Central Australia and we all know that we have work in front of us.