‘CRISIS’ IN REMOTE NT
Indigenous leaders not holding breath on referendum promise
A REFERENDUM on the Uluru Statement of the Heart has inspired hope, yet the Elders of Garma say they are all too familiar with broken promises from the mouths of politicians.
Yothu Yindi Foundation board of directors member Djawa Yunupingu said the history of the two worlds – Indigenous and ngapaki (non-Indigenous) – was one littered with empty promises.
Yet Mr Yunupingu said the commitments to the Uluru Statement from the newly elected Prime Minister were “lifting our spirits”.
On the second day of Garma, Anthony Albanese formally announced he would set a referendum date to allow Australians to choose whether to enshrine an Indigenous voice to parliament.
Australians will be asked if they “support an alteration to the Constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice”.
Mr Albanese said the referendum question, which did not elaborate the structure of the voice or how it would operate, was critical for the referendum to open up an empathetic and meaningful debate.
Since Federation there have been 44 proposals for constitutional change put to Australian electors. Only eight of these have been approved.
“We recognise the risk of failure. But we also recognise the risk of failing to try,” Mr Albanese said.
“I believe there is room in Australian hearts for the Statement of the Heart.”
Mr Albanese said the Voice was “nothing more and nothing less” than allowing Indigenous people to make decisions on policies that impact their communities.
“It’s not about special treatment or preferential power,” he said.
“Not a third chamber, not a rolling veto, not a blank cheque, but a body with the power and the platform to tell the government and the parliament the truth about what is working and what is not.”
Uluru Dialogue co-chair Megan Davis said the draft question and amendment were the culmination of more than five years of drafting by the Indigenous Law Centre UNSW and the Uluru Dialogue.
“We wanted the words to illustrate a clear and simple ask of voters come referendum day,” Professor Davis said. “(It’s) an important step toward finally giving Australians their opportunity to vote ‘Yes’ at a referendum and to ultimately progress the first step called for in the Uluru Statement – a First Nations Voice.”
She said the draft question would continue to be tested in collaboration with legal experts “to make sure we get this right”.
“We have one chance at this,” she said.
Opposition Indigenous Australians spokesman Julian Leeser raised concerns over the lack of clarity in the referendum question.
“The way to get all Australians behind this is to be really upfront,” Mr Lesser said.
He said the public’s “legitimate concerns” had been left unanswered, including who would serve, how it would be formed, how it would operate.
The Greens have also flagged discussions with the government following the referendum announcement.
Northern Land Council chairman Sam Bush-Blanasi similarly called for greater local decision-making to hand power back to Indigenous people.
“But I don’t hold my breath, I keep breathing. Because if you hold your breath and wait for it you will die,” Mr Bush-Blanasi said.