• image
  • image
  • image
  • image
  • image
  • image
  • image
  • image
  • image
  • image
Wednesday, 14 December 2022 13:42

What's happening with the Uluru Statement from the Heart? [JPIC Issue 06]

jpic ulurustatement 350Both sides of the current ‘argument’

Indigenous Australians have been calling for a voice to parliament since 2017. In his speech on election night on 22nd May, 2022, the new Prime Minist Anthony Albanese, committed the Australian Labor party to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart “in full.” He has also called the Uluru Statement a “modest and gracious” request by First Nation’s people. This has rejuvenated hopes that there may now be progress on the Statement’’s demands. More recently he has vowed to hold a referendum during his first term in office, with commentators suggesting this will most likely be in mid-2024, or even 2023.

Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Linda Burney, recently said, “Australians are more than ready for the discussion about a voice to parliament...It’s time we put the discussion at the centre of our national discourse and took it to a vote.” While Federal Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, says the Liberal party will finalise its position on the referendum early next year, citing “building bewilderment” at the lack of detail around the Voice to Parliament, the Nationals’ leader, David Littleproud, recently announced that his party will oppose a referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice in the constitution as the party did not believe the Voice would “genuinely close the gap.” In addition, the Greens have a policy of ‘treaty first.’ Their position arises from the fact that no treaty between traditional owners and colonisers has ever been negotiated, so First Nations’ sovereignty has never been ceded; therefore, they maintain, constitutional reform is not a priority.

pdf Download Issue 06 of our JPIC Bulletin (1.61 MB)