Submission on a co-design for a First Nations Voice to Parliamentmun
My purpose for this submission to Parliament is to bring the importance of adopting the
recommendations from the "ULURU STATEMENT from the HEART", written and signed in 2017 by
more than 250 clans of many diverse aboriginal groups of First Nations peoples from around the
country in Uluru, all calling for the establishment of a First Nations' Voice to be enshrined in the
Constitution
The purpose of a Voice to Parliament is tQ allow First Nations Peoples input prior to the passage of
new legislation and policies that affect them. As it is now there is no stability or reassurance that
new policies will improve their lives or acknowledge their sovereignty and special status in this
country. The move changes there are in Governments the more changes there are to Aboriginal
policies no offers of stability or security come with these changes
Reassurance will only come when First Nations Peoples have the same rights as all other Australians
have, that is a Voice to Parliament that will eventually lead to a Voice being enshrined in the
Constitution. First Nations Peoples must be given the same opportunity as all other Australians, to
have a say in what is being proposed for them by consecutive governments
The reason their voices are not taken seriously now and in the past goes back to the 1901 Australian
Constitution section 127 which excluded "the natives from being counted"- as they were already
considered outsiders in their own country., they were deliberately excluded from the Constitution
Now more than 100 years later, I like many other Australians have an obligation and am honoured to
stand with First Nations Peoples to affirm the Uluru Statement from the Heart, in its call for Truth-
Telling, for a Makarrata Commission to supervise treaty-making and for a National Voice to be
enshrined in the Constitution.
When First Nations Peoples were asked what they wanted by the next election, the answer was to
have a Voice to Parliament to be enshrined in the Constitution after a referendum was held. This
National Voice member model must be a model that ensures all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island
grass root Voices are heard from every level.
In 2021 let's put it right and give First Nations Peoples a "fair go" to have their voices heard by
giving them the opportunity to put their Voice to Parliament, it is only right for everyone in this
country to have the same right, Indigenous people more than any of us desire that right.
Our Government must honour its election promise by at least firstly granting First Nations People a
Voice to Parliament leading to having a Voice enshrined in the constitution
Now let's have that Referendum and put it to all Australians to have their say in support of our First
Nations Peoples. They have given and continue to give our country so much. Now it is our turn to
show how much we value and appreciate them as they deserve so much more of our understanding
of their rightful sovereignty and unique status.in this country by strongly supporting their call for a
Voice to be enshrined in the Constitution.
No more exclusion it time for inclusion.
Supporter
Janice Tamba
To : http://haveyoursay.niaa.gov.au/submission
RE: Submission on a co-design of a First Nations Voice
Please present my submission to parliament. My purpose for this submission is to bring the
importance of adopting the recommendations in the Uluru Statement from the Heart to the
attention of the federal government.
The statement was written and signed in 2017 by clans of many diverse groups of First Nations
People in Uluru, calling for the establishment of a first nation's voice enshrined in the constitution .
The purpose of a voice to parliament is to allow First Nations People input prior to the passage of
new legislation and policies that affect them.
This situation is beyond urgent as First Nations People, being only 3% of our population, make up
close to 30% of those incarcerated in Australia. This situation highlights their powerlessness in our
society and demonstrates the injustice and the continued appalling institutional prejudice they
suffer under the current government policies.
Constitutional reform will empower First Nations People to take a rightful place in our country giving
them the opportunity to flourish in 2 worlds. They are asking to be recognised for their sovereign
status with an acknowledgement of our shared history.
When will our governments stop and listen to the voices of Indigenous Australians at all levels of our
society? It is time, in fact way overdue, to establish a Makarrata. A meeting between our
government and dur First Nations People for a fair and t ruthful relationship.
Other countries around the world have shown acknowledgement and respect to their indigenous
peoples? When will our government have the strength an~ courage to follow suit?
Indigenous culture is a gift to our country. It is time that we, as a nation, show our appreciation and
acknowledge their sovereignty. It would show our respect by having a voice to parliament enshrined
in the constitution.
I am hoping that my submission wi ll reach t he hearts and minds of many politicians in our
government.
Firstly my congratulations must go to the Select committee for the hard work in collaborating the
many issues, thoughts and concerns presented by so many Aboriginal communities across Australia
to produce ''The Uluru Statement of the Heart'' a truly arduous task at the same time as being a
strong indication to all Australians, myself included; in understanding the urgency of this statement
what It means and what needs to be done to make things right for all our First Nations Peoples.
When First Nations Peoples were asked what they wanted in the last election. The answer was to
have a voice to Parliament, to be enshrined in the Constitution after a referendum was held. Now
Government must honor its election promise
This requiring a Referendum so all Australians can vo.~e for First Nations People to have a voice to
Parliament enshrined in the constitution as promised in that last election.
Let's have that referendum now, and put it to all the people of Australia to have their say in support
of our First Nations Peoples. Who must be given the same opportunity as all other Australians to
have a say In what Is being proposed for them by Governments.
233 years is a long time to wait to be recognised with no power to have a say in reforms handed
down by concessive Governments only to have them changed by the next Government.
In 1901, section 127, First Nations People were deliberately excluded from the Aust.ralian
Constitution. This is not right, what happened to a "fair go" for all Australians.
In 2021 let's put it right and give First Nations Peoples a "fair go" to put their voice to Parliament to
eventually be enshrined in the Constitution.
