Regional communities were central to Uluru Statement, and they must also be for the Voice to Parliament

Our communities know what issues we face, and often they know what solutions we need.

Metadata
Provider: 
The ConversationThe Conversation
URL: 
https://theconversation.com/regional-communities-were-central-to-uluru-statement-and-they-must-also-be-for-the-voice-to-parliament-206288https://theconversation.com/regional-communities-were-central-to-uluru-statement-and-they-must-also-be-for-the-voice-to-parliament-206288
Retrieved on: 
Saturday, May 27, 2023
Information
Tags: 
People, Linda, SBS, Central Land Council, City of Wagga Wagga, Indigenous Voice to Parliament, Solution, Politics, Heart, University, Indigenous peoples, National Sorry Day, Attention, Foundation, Movement, Government, Parliament, Human voice, CWA, MP, Population, Uluru, YouGov, Water, NSW, First Nations, City, Labour, Uluru Statement from the Heart, Country, Mobile phone, Music, Agriculture, Whaling, Price, Guardian, Treaty, Division of Calare
Geotags: 
KIMBERLEY, AUSTRALIA
Summary
Key Points: 
  • Our communities know what issues we face, and often they know what solutions we need.
  • However, dialogues in these areas are still needed in the lead-up to the Voice referendum.
  • Having regional voices heard was essential in designing and advancing the idea of a Voice to Parliament.

Listening to regional peoples was essential to the Uluru Statement

    • To reflect this, the Referendum Council during 2015 and 2016 held Regional Dialogues with Indigenous peoples, to find out what we wanted to see achieved through constitutional reform.
    • Our voicelessness as Indigenous peoples, and the voicelessness of our communities, was raised at these dialogues.
    • Not all Indigenous peoples, including some from regional and remote areas, support the Voice to Parliament.
    • A Yougov poll from April this year, one of the most representative samples to date, shows 83% of Indigenous peoples support a Voice.

Is anyone listening to regional people?

    • Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has stated the Voice would be incapable of representing regional and rural peoples.
    • Indigenous people in NSW’s regional town of Orange have also expressed strong support for the Voice.

We need better engagement with regional people

    • Failing to seek the active participation of regional and rural peoples is doing them a disservice.
    • It is this neglect that forms much of the problems and resentments regional peoples have towards Canberra.
    • Are we truly doing politics and media differently if we don’t actively engage 30% of Australians and 60% of Indigenous peoples?

Giving regional people enough information

    • Wagga Wagga City Council has held forums on the Voice, alongside state MP Dr Joe McGirr, to inform and engage people.
    • Local councils, regional MPs, organisations from our rural communities such as the CWA, all have roles to play in this referendum campaign.
    • Even if they are undecided on the Voice, we must ensure regional and remote peoples are included in the nation’s dialogues about the Voice.
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