Chris Minns – “Once-in-a-generation chance to recognise and hear the Voice of Australia’s First Peoples”
Saturday, 14 October 2023
Today we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Constitution and enshrine a Voice to advise Government.
Recognising Australia’s First Peoples and the thousands of years of continuous culture and history they hold in our nation’s founding document is a chance we cannot miss.
Establishing a Voice will enshrine this recognition giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples a seat at the table to better inform and improve policies affecting the life of Aboriginal people.
This body will give independent advice to decision-makers, on the issues affecting Indigenous communities.
This referendum is an opportunity to enshrine recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our Constitution and create a body merging Indigenous wisdom with our democratic traditions.
First Nations people are dying younger, getting sicker more often and are more likely to enter the criminal justice system.
By any objective measure, what we are doing is not working. So we must give this change a chance.
New South Wales has an important responsibility, as the most populous state in the country with the largest Aboriginal population. More of our citizens stand to benefit from better policy outcomes than anywhere else in Australia.
It is important to emphasise that Constitutional change will make no difference to our successful representative parliamentary democracy. It will not infringe on the House of Representatives or the Senate. The democratic institutions that have been built up over generations will remain in place. These are cherished institutions, and we need them in this country.
Adding the Voice to Parliament will mean that for the first time there will be a direct opportunity for the Australian Parliament to engage with the people whose lives, in many respects, depend on government support, government policy and changes in directions.
For the vast majority of Australians this will not be a big change, but for First Nations Australians it is a massive change.
In the last sitting of the NSW Parliament before the referendum date, the NSW Government held a vote to reiterate its strong support for a Yes vote. This vote garnered support from Members across the aisle showing the unity of Parliament’s message to NSW today.
To those who have not made up their mind, the NSW Government says this is a positive vote for change that will make a meaningful difference to the First Nations people of this country.
Quotes attributable to the Premier Chris Minns:
“Today we’re asking people to take a once-in-a-generation chance to recognise and hear the Voice of Australia’s First Peoples.
“For many Australians this will not be a big change, but it will be a massive change for indigenous communities.
“But to those who have not made up their mind, I say this is a positive vote for change that will make a meaningful difference to the First Nations people of this country.”
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, David Harris:
“We know that when Aboriginal people have a direct say on issues that affect them, we get better outcomes.
“This is a chance for all of us to help achieve better outcomes for Aboriginal people in NSW.
“Aboriginal people have advocated for constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament for some time.
“It is time to say Yes to recognition and a Voice to Parliament.”
