To Co-Design Body
Co-design process: Submission
I grew up in Adelaide, South Australia and now live in Sydney. I am the Chairman and
Founder of a private philanthropic organisation
established in 2006 with a focus on young people, the disadvantaged and indigenous
Australia.
Why do you think the Uluru Statement from the Heart is important?
The Uluru Statement from the Heart is a roadmap to peace forged by many First Nations
peoples in 2017. It is a very Australian innovation. It is an example of the transformative
potential of liberal democratic governance through civic engagement
How could a Voice to Parliament improve the lives of your community?
This would require recognition by the Government of their distinct cultures and forms of
social organisation, governance and decision-making. It would mean transferring
responsibility and power for decision-making to Indigenous communities so they can
make decisions in relation to issues that affect them.
Why is it important for Indigenous people to have a say in the matters that affect them?
It becomes necessary to acknowledge and wherever possible to promote indigenous
culture and heritage, to support indigenous people in their own communities and in the
surrounding community and to address issues specific to the local indigenous
community (rural or urban).
Why do you think it's important to enshrine the Voice to Parliament in the Constitution,
rather than include it only in legislation?
Constitutional enshrinement will require a referendum, which will educate Australians on
the role of the Voice, and provide their endorsement of it. A Voice simply established by
legislation, without this public support, runs the real risk of being ignored or abolished by
parliament. Constitutional enshrinement also confers constitutional status on the Voice,
which signals that it is a foundational institution, establishing its legitimacy into the
future.
Thank you
