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Submissions: Your Feedback

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

The views expressed in these submissions belong to their authors. The National Indigenous Australians Agency reserved the right not to publish submissions, or parts of submissions, that include, for example, material that is offensive, racist, potentially defamatory, personal information, is a copy of previously provided materials, or does not relate to the consultation process.

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Submission Number
111
Participant
Róisín Pengelly
Submission date

I acknowledge Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. I pay my respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders both past, present and emerging.

I would like to acknowledge the incredible work done by the co-design committees and Professor Dr Marcia Langton and Prof Tom Calma in presenting this comprehensive Interim Voice Report. I greatly value the opportunity it has given me to gain a deeper understanding of the urgent need to hold a referendum to enable a First Nations Voice to parliament to be enshrined in our constitution. The Voice must be enshrined in the constitution to ensure that it has legitimacy and authority; it must be taken seriously and therefore must exist as a constitutional institution. The Voice must be enshrined in the constitution to ensure that it operates without the threat of abolition or loss of funding and so that it can grow a body of corporate knowledge and experience in working effectively within the sphere of government. The Voice must be enshrined in the constitution because it confirms that we as Australians want cultural change. Our constitution does not currently reflect the aspirations and desire of the majority of Australians to be inclusive. Successive surveys taken since 2012 have confirmed that there is overwhelming public support for constitutional recognition for our First Nations people. The government has indicated its support for constitutional change. Most importantly, our First Nations people have given their collective support to the Voice. A Voice enshrined in the constitution is the only way forward. A Voice enshrined in the constitution is a pre-requisite for the commencement of the process of Makarrata which will finally begin to address the intergenerational trauma and oppression of First Nations people. Following a successful Makarrata, our country may finally be ready to hear and acknowledge the truth of our colonial past and to accept the invitation to walk alongside our First Nations people into a better future. As an ally, I welcome the opportunity to listen and learn. Please give our First Nations people their Voice to me and to those that govern me; protect that Voice and give it authority and longevity by enshrining it in our constitution. I strongly support a Voice to parliament enshrined in our constitution now.

 

 

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past, present and emerging.