General News
31 July, 2023
Indigenous groups call for respect ahead of referendum
Ahead of the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum, local Indigenous organisations are urging residents to remain respectful towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People following a series of racist incidents against the community. As part of...
Ahead of the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum, local Indigenous organisations are urging residents to remain respectful towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People following a series of racist incidents against the community.
As part of the first referendum in over two decades, voters across the country will decide whether the Australian Constitution should be amended to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
Scheduled to be held later this year, the referendum will ask citizens to vote either Yes or No for the proposed change which will involve the creation of an advisory body consisting of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to represent the views and interests of their communities.
Pamphlets detailing the cases for both sides are also now available for the public to refer to before the vote.
While debates on the matter are well underway, First Nations groups in central Victoria are urging people to ensure conversations are sensitive and respectful towards Indigenous people.
A joint statement released by the Bendigo District Aboriginal Cooperative, DJAARA, Bendigo NAIDOC Week Committee and the Reconciliation Committee, advocated for the safety of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members after they were subjected to several verbal racist attacks in recent weeks.
“The wellbeing of our local Aboriginal community is our primary focus during this time,” the statement said.
“The eSafety Commission has recently reported an increase in complaints that centre on material posted online in reference to the referendum that seeks to denigrate, insult, threaten or otherwise abuse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“This public commentary and abuse have a detrimental impact on the social and emotional wellbeing and safety of members of our community.
“Irrespective of how individuals in our community choose to vote, the debate in the lead up to the referendum and the outcome will have a profound impact on our people.”
The statement also encouraged people to actively support Aboriginal residents against racial abuse of any kind.
“You have the power to ensure racial violence under the guise of political and social debate is not tolerated,” it said.
“If you see or hear behaviour and words that don’t sit well with you against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, please stand up and calmly call it out.
“Above all, please remember that the rights, wellbeing and future of our Elders and our families are being discussed. While non-Aboriginal Australians have a choice to not engage or to walk away from conversations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people cannot as the debate and the outcome will have a profound impact on our community.
“Please walk with us to ensure our community remains safe.”
The upcoming referendum is preceded by 44 proposals that have pushed for constitutional change in the past including an unsuccessful one aimed at establishing Australia as a republic.
Out of the 44 national votes, only eight have been carried forward with the last one approved in 1977, relating to the retirement of judges in the Federal Courts.
While a date for the Voice to Parliament referendum hasn’t been fixed yet it is expected to be held between September and December this year.
It is compulsory for all eligible Australian citizens to enroll and vote in the referendum — voters will receive a ballot paper where they will be able to tick Yes or No to the proposed change.
To find out more information about the referendum or to read the Yes and No pamphlets visit www.aec.gov.au/referendums/pamphlet.htm