The power of having a Voice

As we enter the home stretch towards the referendum for a Voice to Parliament, we must reflect on the amazing journey under way in Victoria. 

We’re starting to see the possibilities and outcomes that can come from listening to First Peoples and we’re getting a glimpse of the better future that is within our reach. 

A future in which First Peoples have the ability to make the decisions that affect our communities and our countries, and where our unique status, diverse cultures, customs, and languages, are recognised, respected and celebrated by everyone. 

Here in Victoria, we effectively already have a voice — the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, an independent, democratic, diverse Aboriginal representative body which brings together 32 Traditional Owners of Country each elected by their communities. 

We have a truth-telling process underway in the Yoorrook Justice Commission to examine the ongoing impacts of colonisation and identify ways to heal wounds and help our communities thrive again. 

And we’ve set the foundations for Treaty negotiations to commence next year. 

We’ve shown that it’s possible to progress all three elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. So it’s only natural that we want First Peoples in other states and at a national level to also benefit from the pursuit of Voice, Treaty and truth. That’s why the assembly voted to endorse the Yes campaign and actively encourage people to vote Yes at the referendum. 

Ultimately, these conversations are about bringing everyone closer together.  

You see, everyone wants to get on with creating a better tomorrow as equals, but to do that we need to address some unfinished business. 

It’s not just about healing the wounds that linger from our yesterdays, because the impact of colonisation didn’t just stop one morning. Rather the impacts have flown on, with disadvantage often compounding down generations and insidious forms of discrimination mutating into the structural racism our people still face today. 

Being hunted off your land, herded into missions, ripped apart from your families and culture — these things have a devastating and intergenerational impact.  

Although many governments have attempted to address some of the issues, their efforts missed the mark every time because they failed to listen to First Peoples. They made policies and laws to us, never with us.  

We must find better ways of working together to find the solutions to the challenges that still hold our people back. 

Here in Victoria, the shared journey to Treaty offers an opportunity to commit to a fair and respectful process for ongoing agreement-making.  

We’re seeking structural change to deliver decision-making power back into Aboriginal hands. But it’s not a one size fits all type of approach. Traditional Owners across the state will negotiate their own Treaties that reflect the priorities and aspirations particular to their areas. 

Likewise, Treaty processes in other states will have their own priorities and ways of doing things. They’ll need the years, like we had, to have the yarns, to identify the common goals and agree on a pathway forward. 

But do you know what the common element is? All of these efforts are underpinned by one thing — they require a willingness to listen to First Peoples. And to be heard, you need a Voice. 

The proposal for the Voice to Parliament might not be as strong as some of us would have liked, but creating a space, a democratic forum for First Peoples elected by First Peoples to distil and articulate the views of our communities, has got to be a step forward.  

It’s ironic that during this referendum campaign so much of the debate has been people trying to figure out what the majority of Aboriginal people want. If only we had a national representative body that could tell us! 

The democratic voice for Aboriginal people in Victoria supports the Voice to Parliament. Yes, just like there is in our community, there’s a handful of people with concerns and reservations about what being in the Constitution means. But let’s be clear, the vast majority of our members — just like the vast majority of our communities — want everyone to vote Yes. 

In the Victorian Constitution, we already have recognition of First Peoples. It hasn’t eroded our sovereignty in any way or hindered our ability to negotiate Treaty. Treaties will enable strong relationships based on self-determination. 

At the heart of the decision before the Australian people is a simple question — are you willing to listen to First Peoples? 

It’s just common sense that governments trying to make policies and programs for Aboriginal people, are always going to get better outcomes when they listen to Aboriginal people. 

Our community has been calling for better representation at a federal level for generations. Just look at Uncle William Cooper’s petition to the King in 1933 as an example. Or the work of my own great-grandfather, Pastor Sir Douglas Nicholls, calling for the right to elect our own representatives to federal Parliament.  

It’s been a long road travelled, but we need to take another step forward. 

We don’t want the Australian people to turn away in fear. If you don’t know, then listen. Hear our stories and embrace 60,000 years of culture and connection to this beautiful country we all call home. 

The Voice might just be the beginning of a journey, but we can choose to travel to a better future together. That’s why we’re asking everyone in Victoria to walk with us and vote YES. 

This was republished with permission from the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.