1088

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Submissions: Your Feedback

Submissions from people and organisations who have agreed to have their feedback published are provided below.

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Submission Number
1088
Participant
Jacqueline Widin
Submission date
Main Submission File
View main submission attachment by Jacqueline Widin32.07 KB
Main Submission Automated Transcript

Submission to the Voice Co-design Process Jacqueline Widin

Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission in response to the Indigenous Voice
Discussion Paper.

My name is Jacqueline Widin and I live on the land of the land of the Gadigal people. As a
society we have long lived under the shadow of the early violent colonisation of this
country. Since colonisation Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have continued to
be subjected to extreme racism and abuse by the key institutions and denied even basic
human rights. In 2017 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people came together and
produced the Uluru Statement which gives the Australian government a pathway to First
Nations People’s self determination and reconciliation. This pathway challenges systems of
injustice, unfairness and inequity and leads us towards a more just society. The Uluru
Statement gives the government clear direction:

We seek constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful place in
our own country. When we have power over our destiny our children will flourish.
They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift to their country.

We call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution.

Makarrata is the culmination of our agenda: the coming together after a struggle. It
captures our aspirations for a fair and truthful relationship with the people of
Australia and a better future for our children based on justice and self
determination.
(Uluru Statement of the Heart, 2017)

I support the Uluru Statement’s demand for not only constitutional recognition, but also an
independent voice enshrined in the constitution. In this submission I call on the Australian
government to:

1. honour its election commitment to a referendum once the model for the Voice
has been settled;

2. introduce enabling legislation for the Voice must be passed after a referendum
has been held in the next term of Parliament; and

3. support a membership model for the National Voice which ensures that previously
unheard Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the same chance of being
selected as established leadership figures.

The Australian government, in taking up the calls of this submission and seriously engaging
in reconciliation processes such as agreement making and truth telling will allow us to form
a stronger and fairer society.

Yours sincerely,
Jacqueline WIdin