A no vote will damage our reputation on world stage
Australians will soon be asked to make a choice to vote yes or no in a Voice referendum. Some arguments about the
Voice are built on misinformation. Here are 10 of the facts:
1. Aboriginal people asked for the Voice in the Uluru Statement
The Uluru Statement from the Heart which called for a First Nations Voice was the culmination of 13 Regional Dialogues held with Aboriginal people all around the country which reached a consensus position. This consensus of First Nations Peoples’ support for the Voice remains with polling undertaken this year reflecting 80 per cent support for the Voice from First Nations People (Ipsos Jan 2023).
2. Aboriginal people aren’t in the constitution
There is no recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the first inhabitants of this country in the constitution. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Peoples have asked Australians for this recognition in the form of a First Nations Voice so the recognition is not just symbolic but has the ability to make meaningful change in their lives.
3. Other countries have Indigenous constitutional recognition
Similar mechanisms are common in liberal democracies as they are a way to ensure Indigenous peoples, who often make up only a small percentage of the population, are able to actively participate in decision making regarding the polices and laws that affect them.
4. The Voice will be advisory only, courts won’t give it power
The Voice will have the power to make representations to the parliament and the government so they can make better policy and direct tax-payer programs to where they will make the most difference.
This week the Joint Select Committee heard from a who’s who of constitutional experts who all confirmed that the Voice is legally sound and would not cause disruption to government or clog up the courts.
5. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples don’t have a Voice
While there are a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander providers and peak bodies that work with government in their area of expertise, First Nations people in communities across Australia do not have a mechanism to be heard by those in Canberra who make decisions which impact their lives every day. A Voice will mean the government will have better quality information about First Nations communities and issues, delivered directly from communities.
6. The Voice will speak for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
The design principles released by the government are very clear – the Voice will be representative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, members would be chosen by local people, according to local wishes, and will have specific remote representatives as well as representation for the mainland Torres Strait Islander population.
7. The Voice would have prevented problems like Alice Springs
The issues faced by communities in Alice Springs are not new and require long-term coordinated actions. They are fuelled by poor housing, inadequate administration of the NDIS, amalgamations of rural and remote councils and failure to diagnose FASD and cognitive impairment. The Voice will have a critical role to play giving policy makers a better understanding of the underlying issues and what is needed to improve outcomes.
8. A no vote will damage Australia’s reputation
It’s very likely that this will be the case, however, it’s the not reason Australians should consider voting yes. They should consider a yes vote because recognising the first peoples of the country in our founding document is an important step on the road to reconciliation.
9. Opponents of the Voice are not racist
The ‘no’ campaign accuses the ‘yes’ case of labelling anyone who disagrees with the Voice as racist. This is a technique to whip up more negative sentiment against us. In reality, we see our role as educating Australians about the benefits of the Voice and ensuring they are armed with the information they need to make an informed choice come referendum day. We will, however, call out racism when we see it.
10. The Voice will close the gap Through the Regional Dialogues, we heard many examples of policy and laws that negatively impact on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Those communities also know how they could be improved to make a difference – but they are not heard.
Our people are armed with the solutions for how to close the gap. They just need to be heard.