I write to correct a number of errors of fact contained Linda Telisman’s published letter (CCN392).
The 11 Aboriginal MPs in Federal Parliament representing different political parties have been elected by all voters in their area to stand up for their rights and interests at a national level.
These MPs and Senators do not just represent Aboriginal people – they act on behalf of all their constituents.
Aboriginal representative and advisory bodies have been in constant change for decades.
They form, re-form or are abolished at the whim of the party in government, causing immense confusion and frustration amongst Indigenous peoples.
The NIAA, established in May 2019, is the latest of these bodies.
We need a longer-term presence that can’t disappear at the stroke of a pen.
Indigenous people recognise this.
The Voice is a culmination of many years of dedicated work by Indigenous people consulting and talking, then eventually deciding how best to resolve the fundamental issue of constitutional recognition and Indigneous disadvantage and disempowerment.
The ‘secret government documents’ Telisman references are not that.
They were individual views expressed during the 2016 National Indigenous Dialogue; some of many thousands of comments and views expressed by the 1,200 people in forums across the country leading up to the National Constitutional Convention at Uluru.
In fact, 97 per cent of the Convention delegates endorsed the Uluru Statement from the Heart, calling for a First Nations Voice to be enshrined in the Constitution.
Telisman’s falsely-named ‘secret government documents’ did not make the Statement.
What Telisman failed to note was that many other countries already successfully recognise their Indigenous people in their constitutions, including Canada, the UK, NZ, the USA, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
State and Territory governments in SA, Victoria and Queensland are already negotiating Treaties with First Nations people.
The new NSW Labor government is in early discussions with Indigenous groups.
A truth-telling commission in Victoria is currently holding hearings.
The states are not shying away from this process.
They have recognised it’s fair and just.
Right here on the Central Coast, the Barang Regional Alliance (one of 10 Empowered Community regions around Australia) has been working with the Australian (and NSW) Government on a new business model for delivering local policies, programs and investment.
Barang works closely with seven other Central Coast Aboriginal organisations and two other partners to collectively advocate and improve services being delivered to the Darkinjung community.
Barang represents the Aboriginal people on the Central Coast.
We need a Voice at the national level with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The Voice is about inclusion and unity.
Constitutional recognition will acknowledge this fact.
The Voice doesn’t give anyone or any group more powers or rights than another.
I encourage any person or group to reach out to Barang if you would like to know more.
We are more than happy to share our story and success, and how the Voice will make a real and lasting difference to Indigenous peoples, and to a unified Australia.
Email, Jun 13
Gary Field, Barang Regional Alliance
I belong to a discussion group and when the Voice came up I thought it would be good to have an Aboriginal person attend. The land council wasn’t interested and referred me to the Baranga Regional Alliance. They agreed to send someone but when it came to it she was too busy. Subsequent attempts to have one on one or email discussion have been ignored. If you want to convince people to vote yes you will have to do better.