First Nation’s people are asking us to allow them a ‘voice’.
Later this year, the people of Australia have the opportunity to support this, by voting ‘Yes’ in the referendum.
What a wonderful opportunity to unite the country.
First Nation’s people want all Australians to share in their amazing history, over 60,000 years.
I see this as such a significant gesture.
Voting ‘Yes’ would be a significant gesture in return.
We have been asked by Ms Hansen-McLaughlin (GT 2/6/23) if we have done our own research on the proposed voice.
The more research I do, the more I am in favour.
The agenda is open: give people a stronger voice in Canberra.
It cannot force the government to act, but it can give advice.
Sure, it is not a voice for everyone.
But that is the same for voices in Canberra now.
Big business has their voices, farmers have their organisations speaking for them, churches have the ear of politicians and so on.
The more voices in Canberra the better.
The voice is not divisive, there is already areas of division in our society.
Because of our diversity we function as a prosperous society, even if imperfectly.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart, developed by First Nation’s people representing their communities, has three objectives, the representative voice as an advisory body; truth telling; and a treaty.
The referendum is only on the voice.
It is parliament which will decide the exact form of the voice.
Many governments are setting up treaty making and truth telling processes, regardless of the referendum.
They are separate issues.
– Tracey McWilliam
Gympie
