‘Grace, dignity, inspiration’: ill Dodson bows out of politics

He has been fighting incurable Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and conceded he could not campaign as much as he wanted before the October 14 vote on constitutional recognition.

A Yawuru man whose people are traditional owners in and around Broome, Senator Dodson entered politics in 2016, filling a senate vacancy to represent Western Australia.

The first Aboriginal man to become a Catholic priest in Australia, in 1975, he left the church in the 1980s and later served as a royal commissioner on the inquiry into Aboriginal deaths in custody.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appointed Senator Dodson as his special envoy for reconciliation last year.

Senator Dodson said analysis of the stronger than expected defeat of the Voice needed to be carefully considered.

“As a nation, not only do we still have the ongoing problem and challenges of colonisation and settlements and its impact on the First Peoples, we now have, if we’re not careful, serious challenges to the underpinning social fabric of our society from the successful nature of our multicultural integration and achievements.

“Many Australians of goodwill possibly didn’t know the implications and the complexities of what the provision was about. That requires composite district consultation and I accept that.”

Mr Albanese on Tuesday described Senator Dodson as “a wonderful Australian”.

“As a boy, he hid in the long grass while the police and welfare officers took his mates,” he said.

“Yet despite what must have been such a traumatic experience as a child, he grew into the Father of Reconciliation – a figure of grace, dignity and inspiration.

“Patrick has spent his life championing justice and advancing reconciliation.”

Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney said Senator Dodson had dedicated his life to improving the lives of Aboriginal people.

“He has carried the stories of those who died in custody with him into federal parliament, where he has been a staunch advocate for justice – seeking to turn around the rates of Indigenous incarceration and deaths in custody that remain a national shame,” Ms Burney said.

“As the prime minister has said, the moment Patrick entered parliament, he made this place a better one.

“As he leaves the nation’s capital and returns to Yawuru country, I wish him all the very best. He leaves a remarkable legacy which we all have a responsibility to continue.”