Alison Barrett writes:
A national week of action for the referendum on a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament kicked off with a range of events, including online yarning circles, to raise awareness of the issues at stake.
Organisers behind ‘Start a Yarn’ had a huge response to the yarning circles with all sessions for this week quickly filling up. In addition, many people have joined the waitlist for future yarns.
The yarning circles are a safe and respectful space, offering an opportunity to hear about the importance of the First Nations Voice and have questions answered by Uluru Dialogue co-chairs Pat Anderson AO and Professor Megan Davis.
At a yarning circle today, Anderson and Davis discussed the process that led to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Australian Constitution, Treaty and Truth-telling process.
They highlighted that the sequence of the Voice, Treaty and Truth is important, deliberate and was decided upon through the Dialogues that took place across the country prior to Uluru in 2017.
The referendum to constitutionally enshrine a First Nations Voice to Parliament is an opportunity for Australians to “agree to the principle that [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people] should be consulted on laws and policies about [their] lives”, according to Davis.
Should Australians vote yes, “that opens the door for the operating manual that Parliament puts together” about how the Voice will work, Davis said.
Improving health and wellbeing
The establishment of a Voice to Parliament will “provide a strong foundation for the urgent work to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Lowitja Institute CEO Adjunct Professor Janine Mohamed said in a statement released this week.
The Institute welcomes the growing momentum and progress towards the referendum – “constitutional recognition has been such a long time coming in Australia”, Mohamed said.
“As the Australian Parliament considers the question that will be put to the Australian people in a referendum, we look forward to supporting the process towards recognition for our peoples,” she said.
Lowitja Institute is a member of the Referendum Engagement Group that brings together more than 60 First Nations leaders and representatives of key organisations from across Australia in support of the referendum.
Lowitja Institute Chair Selwyn Button said the Voice will have a practical impact on the lives of First Nations Australians “because we will make better policies when our people are heard”.
“It would enable even our most vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members – who have long been absent from federal government decisions – to have a seat at the table when decisions that directly affect them are being made,” he said.
National Press Club
Meanwhile, at the National Press Club today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered a clear message about the Labor Party’s focus on this year’s referendum to constitutionally enshrine a First Nations Voice to Parliament.
In response to questions for information on the treaty process and beyond the referendum, Albanese said: “My focus, as the national leader, is very much on the Voice and on constitutional recognition.”
The structure and functions of the Voice will be determined by Parliament following the referendum, he said.
Albanese was also asked about concerns raised by Jesuit priest Father Frank Brennan – a long-term advocate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights – about how legally watertight the proposed wording is.
The PM told the audience the constitutional working group is working through issues regarding legality on the wording.
History of activism
A long journey of activism – stemming back to the 1800s – led to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
A video provided to ‘Start a Yarn’ attendees explains the many forms of activism that have taken place, including petitions for land, freedom, and inclusion in the Australian Constitution.
A ten-year national civil rights movement culminated in a successful referendum in 1967 to count Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as part of the population.
“In 1967 we were counted, and now we want to be heard,” the Uluru Statement from the Heart states.
Uluru Dialogues told Croakey via email that the best way to stay up to date on when future yarning circles are available for bookings is by signing up to the Uluru Statement from the Heart newsletter here and following @ulurustatement on social media platforms.
From Twitter
See Croakey’s archive of articles on the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
