Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Consultative Status with United Nations ECOSOC, UNCTAD and UNESCO
Consultative Relations with FAO, ILO, and UNICEF
Australian Section
The Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP
Minister for Indigenous Australians
The National Indigenous Australians Agency
haveyoursay.voice.niaa.gov.au/submissions
An Indigenous Voice to Parliament
The Uluru Statement from the Heart is a ground-breaking initiative from the Indigenous Peoples and must
be honoured. After over some 200 years of warfare, dispossession and disrespect, the Indigenous Peoples
have come together to seek a place and a Voice in governmental arrangements and to be recognised as
partners in the decision-making process in Indigenous Affairs.
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Australia, founded in 1915, is an organisation
focused on advocating for peace and human rights. The history of Indigenous and settler society has been
fraught with violence against our Indigenous citizens. To begin to address past omissions we urge the
government to honour its election commitment to facilitate a referendum. This should be done as soon as
possible.
The enabling legislation for the Voice must be passed after a referendum has been held in the next term of
Parliament. Important too is that the Voice is enshrined in the constitution so that it cannot be overturned
by parliamentary legislation in the future. Also, the Constitution is an important instrument of government
and an Indigenous Voice in the Constitution is vital. This will allow the recognition of the legitimacy and
authority of the Indigenous Voice and facilitate its successful implementation.
The Constitution is also a cultural document that reflects the identity and values and aspirations of the
nation. The constitutional enshrinement of the Voice will provide a great opportunity for all Australians to
embrace Indigenous issues that are of significance to us all. It will change the focus of the nation that
would now be committed to hearing the voices of first nations people and developing a respectful
relationship with them.
We look forward to being able to campaign around Constitutional Recognition of a Voice to Parliament.
Yours sincerely,
Lyn Lane
Secretary
WILPF Australia
26 April 2021
PO Box 934, Dickson ACT 2602 1915 – 2021
WILPF is a non-government organisation committed to disarmament, the peaceful resolution of conflict, economic and social justice, and
environmental sustainability. On 28 April 1915, more than 1200 women met in The Hague to advocate an end to war.
WILPF celebrates 106 years of peace and human rights building.
