2341

  1. Home
  2. Resources
  3. Submissions
  4. 2341

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.

An auto-generated transcript of submissions provided as attachments has been made available to assist with accessibility. These transcripts may contain transcription errors. Please refer to the source file for the original content.

Please note not all submissions are provided in an attachment. For submissions without an attachment, click on the name of the person or organisation to view the text.

Site functionality has recently been improved. You can now search by participant name and submission number. You can also click on the number, date and participant column headings to sort the order of submissions.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that submissions may contain images or names of deceased people.

If you require any further assistance please contact Co-designVoice@niaa.gov.au.

 

Submission Number
2341
Participant
Alison Holland
Submission date

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to this discussion paper and the proposals contained therein. I am an academic historian who has spent the last two decades researching, and writing, on aspects of the history of Indigenous governance in Australia. From this I know that Indigenous Affairs is and has been one of the most hotly contested policy portfolios in this nation. And for good reason. There is much at stake for governments and there is even more at stake for Indigenous people. The Uluru Statement from the Heart calls for structural reform in the form of a constitutionally enshrined First Nations voice to parliament. This is the only viable option for a voice to parliament because it protects the voice from political intervention or interference and it enables an Indigenous voice on policies that impact their lives as First Nations peoples. This is an urgent reform and should be a governmental priority. As I write this submission there are so many outstanding issues in need of redress in and for Indigenous communities, particularly the unacceptable and shameful rates of Indigenous deaths in custody and incarceration. Self-determination and Indigenous empowerment is at the heart of the matter as the participants at the Uluru Convention argued. It is simply not good enough to talk about closing the gap and 'practical' solutions. Indigenous health and well-being is far too important but solutions need to be informed by Indigenous needs and demands. Indigenous-led solutions are critical. A constitutionally enshrined voice to parliament would provide a mechanism - foundation - whereby this could happen.

More importantly the government must honour its election commitment to hold a referendum once a model for the Voice has been settled. Enabling legislation for the Voice must be passed after a referendum has been held in the next term of Parliament and the membership model for the Voice must ensure that previously unheard Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the same chance of being selected for leadership positions.

Thank you.

 

 

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.