Voice to Parliament
Why is this important?
First Peoples Voice to Parliament is the first reform called for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
This is a constitutionally enshrined body of First Nations People with a direct line to Federal Parliament, able to influence laws and policies that affect First Nations communities.
A constitutional Voice is both symbolic and substantive recognition.
What is a Voice to Parliament?
The Uluru Statement is an invitation from First Nations Peoples issued to all Australians on 27 May 2017. It calls for legal and structural reforms to reshape the relationship between First Nations Peoples and the Australian population.
The Uluru Statement is an invitation from First Nations Peoples issued to all Australians on 27 May 2017. It calls for legal and structural reforms to reshape the relationship between First Nations Peoples and the Australian population.
The statement calls for two substantive changes:
Voice and Makarrata.
- Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution.
- A Makarrata Commission to supervise:
1. Agreement making.
2. Truth-telling about our history.
The Uluru Statement is an invitation from First Nations Peoples issued to all Australians on 27 May 2017. It calls for legal and structural reforms to reshape the relationship between First Nations Peoples and the Australian population.
How will a voice to Parliament work and strengthen First Nations communities?
A Voice will mean the commonwealth government will have better quality information about First Nations communities and issues, delivered directly by First Nations Peoples themselves.
Read Reconciliation Victoria’s Position Statement on a Voice to Parliament here.
Australian reconciliation peak organisations strongly support the Voice.
Reconciliation Victoria, alongside peak reconciliation organisations across the nation have aligned in strong support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.
Read the Australian Reconciliation Network (ARN) joint statement here.
Uluru Statement from the Heart
Learn more about the three components on From the Heart's interactive feature.
Reflection article: Preparing our voices for the referendum.
Pictured (Left to Right): Emily Holn, Uncle Glenn Loughrey, Michelle Ananda-Rajah, Uncle Shane Charles, Thomas Mayor, Margaret Hepworth (IofC).
Reconciliation Victoria took part in the First Nations Voice in the Constitution - Steps to the Referendum forum run by international NGO, Initiatives of Change, on Tuesday 10th January 2023.
Keynote speakers included Reconciliation Victoria’s Co-Chair, Uncle Shane Charles, Uncle Glenn Loughrey, and Thomas Mayor from the national campaign group From the Heart.
The forum provided attendees with a high-level briefing on steps and strategies to take to achieve a YES vote in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.
Reconciliation Victoria is inspired by what we learnt at the forum and grateful to have more details and strategies to prepare for the referendum.
Support for the Voice to Parliament
Reconciliation Australia Barometer
Reconciliation Australia has released the 2022 Australian Reconciliation Barometer (ARB), a biennial national research survey which looks at the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider population, and how perceptions affect progress towards reconciliation.
When it comes to the key proposals for a First Nations Voice to Parliament, Australians widely believe the reforms are important, including 60% in the general community who think giving First Nations people a say is very important. However, it is notable that sentiments have softened regarding a Voice and Truth-telling, since 2020.
The vast majority also think it’s important for Constitutional changes to establish a First Nations representative Body and to protect that Body. And, most Australians (69%) believe such reconciliation efforts are the responsibility of all Australians (page 2).
80% support for the Voice: Uluru Dialogue
Uluru Dialogue Group, the peak First Nations body backing the Voice to Parliament, released a report on 27 January 2023, indicating 80 percent of First Nations people back the Voice to Parliament.
The poll, conducted by market research company IPSOS, found 80 per cent of First Nations people would vote yes in a referendum with a further one-in-10 undecided. Only 10 per cent said they did not support the Voice.
The poll also found First Nations supporters of the Voice were confident in that support, with three quarters of yes voters ‘very sure’ about their decision, with the remaining ‘fairly sure’.
Alyawarre woman and Uluru Dialogue co-chair Pat Anderson said the research confirmed the campaign for a First Nations Voice reflected the views of most Traditional Owners as a chance to improve outcomes for First Nations communities.
The poll was conducted from January 20 to 24 2023 and surveyed 300 First Nations people around Australia.
Resources
Reconciliation Victoria
Uluru Dialogue
From the Heart
National Indigenous Australians Agency
- Indigenous Voice Co-design Process: Final Report (July 2021)
- Areas of Focus: Uluru Statement from the Heart
UNSW Law Journal
Initiatives of Change Australia
Parliament of Australia
- Uluru Statement: a quick guide (June 2017)
Referendum Tapes '23 by Victorian Aboriginal News
- Episode 1: First Nations Voice advocate and campaigner Thomas Mayor speaks out on the Voice to Parliament
- Episode 2: Professor Cheryl Saunders sheds light on the Australian Constitution
- Episode 3: Reconciliation Victoria CEO Nicole Findlay discusses Support for the 2023 Referendum
SBS NITV
- Article: Constitutional recognition has a long history, how did we get here? (Published 25 Jan 2023)
- Explainer: We're headed for a referendum this year. How do they work? (Published 1 Feb 2023)
National Cabinet Meeting - signed statement of intent
- Guardian Australia Article: PM, state and territory leaders formally back Indigenous voice to parliament with statement of intent. (Published 3 Feb 2023)
