Question Time AU

General Debate

Roberts, Ms Rhoda Ann, AO

House of Representatives · Tuesday 31 March 2026

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

Members of the House of Representatives delivered statements to commemorate Rhoda Roberts AO, a Bundjalung elder and prominent cultural leader who passed away. Speakers highlighted her pioneering roles in broadcasting, the arts, and major national events, including the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. They acknowledged her instrumental role in establishing the 'welcome to country' protocol and reshaping cultural institutions to centre First Nations perspectives. The debate concluded with expressions of condolence to her family and colleagues.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Opened the debate

Justine Elliot (Richmond) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

Elliot honoured Roberts as a Bundjalung Widjabul Wia-bal elder whose work shaped national cultural life. Elliot noted Roberts was the inaugural Aboriginal host of a prime time current affairs program on SBS, bringing Indigenous perspectives into mainstream media. Elliot highlighted Roberts' role in coining the term 'welcome to country' in the 1980s and her leadership positions at the Sydney Opera House and in major festivals. Elliot stated that Roberts' legacy endures in the artists she supported and the institutions she transformed.