History of the VOice - why it matters
The Voice referendum is the result of nearly a decade of open, consultative and wide ranging discussions about the best way to recognise Australia's First Nations people in our constitution, how to better engage with them in our governance, and how to best deal with the difficult and often very painful past.
In 2016, the Prime Minster and Opposition Leader joined together in a bipartisan process to explore how to best recognise First Nations people in our constitution. They created a Referendum Council to lead the process. This led to a series of consultations and discussions with indigenous Australians (the 'Dialogues'), and culminated in a national convention held at Uluru and the monumental Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The Voice referendum is a direct implementation of the proposals of that process. To understand the Voice, then, is to understand that history.
- This process that led to the Voice referendum is itself an illustration of the principle the Voice aspires to: if you want to engage people in a brighter future, the best and most dignified response is listen to them.
In 2016, the Prime Minster and Opposition Leader joined together in a bipartisan process to explore how to best recognise First Nations people in our constitution. They created a Referendum Council to lead the process. This led to a series of consultations and discussions with indigenous Australians (the 'Dialogues'), and culminated in a national convention held at Uluru and the monumental Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The Voice referendum is a direct implementation of the proposals of that process. To understand the Voice, then, is to understand that history.
