Professional Historians Association (Vic & Tas) Inc.
PO Box 1223
Carlton VIC 3053
Australia
Voice Secretariat
Reply Paid
83380
Canberra ACT 2601
By email: co-designvoice@niaa.gov.au
Dear Voice Secretariat
The Professional Historians Association (Victoria & Tasmania) Inc represents a community of
over 200 professional historians throughout Victoria and Tasmania. The PHA (Vic & Tas)
strongly supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart, created by the First Nations People of
this land.
As historians we are aware of the numerous times since the start of colonisation that First
Nations People have called on colonial, state and federal authorities and non-Indigenous
Australians to respect their sovereign rights and have been ignored. We believe this needs to
stop and we need to listen to First Nations People and pay true heed to their inherent rights
as sovereign people of this land.
Uluru delegate and Gunditjmara woman Jill Gallagher has stated ‘[w]e need to have a hook in
Constitution that empowers us.’ This means that ‘[i]f we’ve got a Voice that’s enshrined in the
Constitution…if we’ve got a representative body there empowered by the Constitution to
advocate the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in this country – then we
can hold the Federal government to their obligations.’1 Another delegate and Wotjobaluk
woman, Janine Coombs described the Uluru convention as occurring in ‘a culturally sage
space. Everybody, whether they agreed or disagreed, was heard. We all came together as a
collective and determined a common goal.’2 Palawa man Rod Dillon stated ‘[w]e need leaders
voted in by our people, not just be a few here and there. We are weakened because our other
representative bodies haven’t been protected by the Constitution, by being in the rule book.’3
We support their and other First Nations Peoples’ call for a Voice to Parliament consisting of
and to represent First Nations People and that it needs to be enshrined in the Constitution.
We urge the federal government to:
● � hold a referendum on Constitutional change once a model for the 'Voice to
Parliament' has been agreed upon;
● � ensure that all First Nations People have the opportunity to participate as the
'Voice to Parliament'; and
● � enable legislation based on the outcome of the 'Voice to Parliament' referendum.
We note that the government has already deferred aspects of this process and we expect from
now that timelines will be included for all steps and promises made will be adhered to.
1 Jill Gallagher, as cited in Thomas Mayor, Finding the Heart of the Nation, Hardie Grant, Melbourne, 2019, pp. 148, 149. �
2 Janine Coombs, as cited in Thomas Mayor, Finding the Heart of the Nation, Hardie Grant, Melbourne, 2019, p. 156. �
3 Original emphasis. Rod Dillon, as cited in Thomas Mayor, Finding the Heart of the Nation, Hardie Grant, Melbourne, 2019, p. 167. �
The PHA (Vic & Tas) also supports the establishment of a Makarrata Commission to lead a
process of making agreements and treaties and oversee the telling of the difficult and necessary
truths of our shared history.
We view with hope and optimism the idea that historians and members of the non-Indigenous
and Indigenous community will one day, through reforms such as the 'Voice to Parliament', tell
stories of a period of reflection and understanding across this country.
It is time to listen to our First Nations People. They have asked us to support the Uluru
Statement from the Heart and we do. We implore the government to do the same.
Yours Sincerely
Kimberley Meagher
President
Professional Historians Association (Vic & Tas)
Professional Historians Association (Victoria & Tasmania) Inc.
mail@phavic.org.au 1800 950 688 www.phavic.org.au
Professional Historians Association (Victoria & Tasmania) @PHAVicTas
