First Nation is becoming a vital voice

THE voices of indigenous Australians may be amplified each year during NAIDOC Week but this is not nearly enough.

Townsville residents sceptical of this need only look at how often the indigenous community of Palm Island is ignored or forgotten, becoming part of the conversation only during crisis or controversy.

It must be noted that there were two significant milestones for indigenous Australians this week.

The State Government pledged to pay $190 million to 10,000 indigenous workers after a 12-year campaign by Townsville man Hans Pearson to deliver justice for stolen wages.

Federal Indigenous Minister Ken Wyatt this week promised a proposal to recognise indigenous people in the constitution would be put to a referendum within three years.

Mr Wyatt said the Federal Government would design the model with First Australians and allocated more than $7 million to facilitate the process.

This sensible change in tack comes nearly two years after the Federal Government, under former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, egregiously rejected the key recommendation of the historic Uluru Statement from the Heart, which was to establish a permanent indigenous body to advise Parliament.

“It is a cry to all tiers of government to stop and listen to the voices of indigenous Australians,” Mr Wyatt said this week.

Indigenous Australians will rightfully celebrate these milestones after years of toil, though that it takes so long for these sort of issues to come to a head still demonstrates a depressing reluctance to right wrongs.

While First Nation people will lead the charge for further progress, change and recognition, the rest of the community must play its part too.

Let us listen to the voices in our indigenous communities and hear their truth.