Submission concerning an Indigenous Voice
Ian Macindoe PhD
The Uluru Statement from the Heart, and the subsequent tentative proposals for an
Indigenous Voice, represent the greatest opportunity to advance the unity and integrity of the
Australian nation.
One cannot help but be impressed by the thoughtful work already done on the Uluru
Statement, the proposals for a referendum, and the suggestions for an Indigenous Voice.
The Australian people as a whole can be positively impressed and supportive of this work.
So, it is important that clear, easy-to-understand descriptions of this work and the proposals
are made available to all segments of the Australian society -- both indigenous and non-
indigenous -- and particularly to non-English speaking communities where languages other
than English predominate.
Since the bulk of Australia’s population is not well informed in these matters, it is up to the
journalists, the mainstream media, and the electronic community media (Facebook, Twitter
etc.) to educate the population as to the nature and goals of an Indigenous Voice, both in its
National and Regional/Local forms.
For the above reasons it will be of great importance for the relevant bodies -- be they The
National Indigenous Australians Agency, appropriate government departments, and a variety
of NGOs -- to engage in a massive assertive public education campaign to ensure all
Australians are properly and correctly informed as to what is being proposed. To this end, if
it is not already in the works, I suggest that a national task force of experienced and well-
connected media people be formed to coordinate such a public educational campaign.
