Bali Peace Park

Press release
BALI PEACE PARK PROJECTMonday 10TH of October 2022

I am a proud Palawa/ Wirahjuri man, an indigenous Australian who is privileged to be a part of the ongoing history between our two nations, Indonesia and Australia. Our north mob, Aboriginal Australians from the northern regions of Australia, and the indigenous peoples from the many islands scattered to the north of the mainland have traded with the seafarers of Indonesia long before lines were drawn on a white man's map, when the only lines drawn were those on the sands of the ocean floor. Our people to this day share cultural beliefs, traditions and bloodlines.

If I were at home in Australia, it is at this point in a speech, where a welcome to country would be made and the traditional landowners, both past and present would be recognised, honoured and thanked for allowing us to walk upon their lands. And so it is that I would like to recognise and thank the Balinese people for allowing us, visitors who hail from many nations, to walk upon their land and to share in the beauty of their island. I would like to thank Former Chief of Police and former Governor Bapak Made Mangku Pastika, the Indonesian Patron for the Peace Park project for his support, Indonesian Government officials, Foreign dignitaries and the village of Kuta representatives.

Let me take a minute also to acknowledge the people of over 21 nations who gather here today with one purpose. Those nations are:

Indonesia
Australia 
New Zealand 
Japan 
United Kingdom 
United States of America
Germany
Sweden
France
Denmark
Switzerland
Brazil
Canada
Egypt
Netherlands
Italy
Ecuador
Bolivia
Ireland
Turkey
Poland
Portugal
 and Taiwan.

What a diverse group we are. We represent different countries, different nationalities, different languages, different religious beliefs, different politics and different belief systems yet we are all here with one purpose.

We are the personification of Bhinneka Tunngal Ika: Unity in Diversity. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is one of the five tenets of the Indonesian Pancasila that unifies this country's people. Simply put it means that despite our differences we can unite as one. The unifier here today is our shared purpose, and that purpose is the pursuit of PEACE.

Twenty years ago, a horror was visited upon this island and its shock waves reverberated around the world. The Bali Bombings scorched the earth of Kuta, tore loved ones from their families, and destroyed the livelihoods of many. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the grief and suffering of those who lost friends and cherished family members and to offer you my continued support and condolences. Much has and will be said over the next few days regarding the bombings. Rather than revisiting the event what I would like to do instead is to talk to you about the pursuit of peace and my 19-year journey to find and promote peace and unity.

19 years ago, when I was paying my respects at the bombing site I met a young woman, Lauren and her partner Jill. Lauren's mother had been injured in the bombing, but sadly succumbed to her injuries after being Medi- vac to Perth. Meeting Lauren proved to be fortuitous. Later that night I was approached by an Indonesian who told me that the Sari Club land was for sale. It was at that very moment that the concept of the Bali Peace Park was born. I promised Lauren then that I would exhaust every avenue to bring our dream to fruition and despite many hurdles it is still my intention to do so. over the next six years, during the Bali Bombing recovery period I devoted myself to establishing a Peace Park. I worked closely with Desa Adat Kuta, the Balinese regional government, Indonesian authorities as well as the Australian government, and family members of the victims.

I mentioned hurdles before, sadly, conflicts of interest arose between committee members and the dream of the Peace Park seemed to move further and further away. To date, no one person, despite their best intentions, has been able to succeed in purchasing the land or gaining full financial support and commitment from the Australian Government.

In this twentieth memorial year it is time for conflict and acrimony to be put aside and for the Peace Park to be established.

I call on the governments of over 21 countries who lost citizens to this act of terrorism to work co- operatively together to build the park.

I call on the Australian and Indonesian governments to work together to finance the park.

I call on all Peace Park Committee members, past and present, and their supporters to put their differences aside and to work cooperatively together to build a dream. When we all work together we form a unified bond; when we put aside our differences then this dream can be achieved.

The Peace Park will be a place where people of many nations, ethnicities and religions will be able to sit in a tranquil greenspace and if only for a moment in time find peace and serenity from strife and turmoil.

Peace, harmony and Balance will be restored to the Sari Club site.

In a tumultuous and conflicted world let us acknowledge our diversity and differences and unite to build an oasis of peace and tranquillity in the heart of Kuta. Dreams can come true.

Bhinekka Tunngal Ika