To Co-Design Body
Submission for Co-design process
I am a white female raised in the upper middle class. I have had the privilege to attend good schools and universities, and have multiple degrees focused around environmental science. I have a good job in the public purpose sector, in a supportive team and workplace. I love the outdoors, and while connection to country isn't based on countless generations, nevertheless I feel it.
Why do you think the Uluru Statement from the Heart is important?
The Uluru Statement from the Heart is important because it gifts colonial Australians a clear pathway forwards to finally recognise our First Nations people in a way that approaches fair. We (colonial Australians) have hidden from the truth for far too long - We are living on stolen land. While we can't undo the past, we can affect the future, and the Uluru Statement from the Heart provides us with a clear direction that respects and honours Indigenous Australians.
Why is it important for Indigenous people to have a say in the matters that affect them?
Self-determination is a fundamental force in anyone's life, and one that has been denied to Indigenous people in Australia for far too long. We have spent too long enforcing Western ways of doing things on Indigenous people, when their own systems and lore worked perfectly well for tens of thousands of years. They deserve the right to practice their culture and lore in their everyday lives, and to use those principles to make decisions for their future.
How could a Voice to Parliament improve the lives of your community?
A community that denies the truth of history will never be healthy. We need to acknowledge the past to build a better future.
Why do you think it's important to enshrine the Voice to Parliament in the Constitution, rather than include it only in legislation?
Legislation can be changed all too easily, the Constitution will allow the Voice to Parliament to survive political whimsy.
Thank you,
