In May 2017, roughly 250 of Australia’s indigenous delegates met in Uluru to call for a formal “voice” as representatives of the indigenous community in parliament.

The statement was referred to as (quote) “the Uluru Statement from the Heart.” Learn about the Voice to Parliament at https://www.elle.com.au/culture/what-is-the-voice-to-parliament-uluru-statement-28474.

It, along with a path to a treaty, followed three days of discussions at the First Nations Convention. The leaders wanted more than mere symbolic recognition in the constitution. The idea was to have a “substantive constitution change and structural reform rather than a statement of acknowledgment.”

The indigenous people in Australia are among the only ones without a signed treaty for Commonwealth countries. The hope in 2017 was to have a referendum within 12 months.

In June of this year, the political leaders agreed to hold the national referendum, which will be voted on in a “yes or no” question format on or before October to December 2023. Let’s learn more about the Voice to Parliament.

Australian Indigenous Voice To Parliament

The indigenous delegates are working to achieve a reform to the constitution, a Voice to parliament to the indigenous people rather than simply acknowledging the people. The discussions were held in May of 2017 and passed among the political leaders to move forward with the referendum in June of 2023.

The referendum will be voted on or before October to December 2023. If approved, the people would have an established voice to represent the indigenous people when advising on laws. Parliament members suggest the change to be “simple” albeit “momentous.”

Constitutional referendums have been few, with a success rate thus far of “8 out of 44 brought to parliament.” There is fierce debate, both opposing and supporting the Voice in the political environment.

The (quote) “Uluru Statement from the Heart” boasts the best, albeit not unanimous, call for reform impacting Australians First Nations.

The proposed question that Australians would see to make their vote would include the following:

(Quote) “A proposed law to alter the constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve of this proposed alteration? (End quote)

Parliament explained that the Voice would encompass Australia’s recognition that the people of Australia would “share the great island continent with the world’s oldest continuous culture.”

Parliament further stated that the “nation’s birth certificate should recognise this and be proud of it.” While indigenous affairs representatives acknowledge their decades of “not being counted.”

The indigenous Australians have felt “powerless in relation to structural problems like higher incarceration rates for the indigenous population, reduced lifespan, and diminished education and health results, with no opportunity to offer resolution to these issues.”

Representatives who are not of an indigenous descent are resolving issues for communities “they don’t visit for people they are unfamiliar with.” The Voice passed through the political leaders in June. It will await approval of the referendum on or before October to December 2023. Go here for details on the referendum.

What Is The Voice To Parliament?

A vote on a referendum will be held on or before October to December 2023 on a “substantive constitutional change’ in which the indigenous delegates would represent these peoples’ Voice in parliament.

The bill passed in June is now leading to the campaigning of a straightforward “yes or no” question format for the referendum vote.

Approval of the referendum would result in recognition of the Voice of the people as the First People in Australia with a body present in Parliament and Commonwealth Executive Government with power to advise on laws on matters on these peoples. What is the Voice to Parliament, and how will it work?

The Voice gives the Indigenous people the opportunity to advise the Australian government and parliament on Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people matters that include social, economic, and spiritual well-being.

The government and parliament would need to refer to the Voice on any matters relating to these peoples, whether on programs for community development, employment, native title, housing, and heritage protection or the NDIS. The Voice could “table” parliament’s formal advice, which must be considered.

Conservative critics have sparked fears that there could be court challenges developing, but primarily, head constitutional legal representatives all speak favourably of the Voice, with most discounting the legal concerns due to the representation.

The Voice makes way for the people of these groups to speak about First Nations people and their life outcomes with the government on their views about the laws and how they will impact their lives. This group of people will be heard after a long history of programs that failed them and policies that brought poor results.

The Voice can help to ensure the federal parliament makes good strides moving forward for Australia as a nation but also for the First Nations people’s life outcomes. Its principles will follow this structure:

1. Voice to Parliament will be transparent and accountable
2. Youth will be included. It will be balanced on gender, be culturally informed, inclusive, empowering, respectful, and led by the community.
3. The indigenous peoples will be represented
4. First National people will choose the representative as a local community
5. Voice to Parliament will recommend the government and parliament partner their traditional and existent structures and organisations

The body would be advisory in nature. Services the Voice would not deliver would include the following:

1. Mediation to Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal organisation
2. Serve as a researchclearing house
3. Government funding management
4. Deliver services

With dispute resolution, the recommendation would be mediation. Still, if that is unsuccessful, there would be an independent review with an agreed-upon list of individuals with adequate experience, including at least one Torres Strait Islander or Aboriginal individual.

A final decision would be granted by the relevant minister and “two respected members of these communities.”

Final Thought

The referendum will be voted on or before October to December 2023 to give the indigenous peoples a Voice, the ability to advise parliament relating to matters that impact Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people and not merely have them recognised in the constitution, a substantive constitutional change the people find long overdue.