Kerry O’Brien to attend Hervey Bay Voice to Parliament event

Prominent Australian journalist Kerry O’Brien will attend a Fraser Coast event in support of the Yes vote in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.

The announcement of the Yes to the Voice event in Hervey Bay comes as members of the Fraser Coast community came together this week to launch a push for the Yes vote.

High profile advocates are heading to Hervey Bay for a discussion regarding the indigenous Voice to Parliament and why they believe it is needed.

Journalist Kerry O’Brien, Yes advocate Jade Appo-Ritchie and author Thomas Mayo are set to attend the event at Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre on July 23.

The event will start at 11.30am and continue until 1pm.

“Together we will learn about why constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through a Voice to Parliament is a crucial step on the path to creating a better future,” a statement about the event read.

The announcement of the event in Hervey Bay comes as members of the Fraser Coast community came together this week to launch a push for the Yes vote.

“You will be given a chance to ask questions, share your feedback and learn about ways to engage locally.”

In late 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

The Voice would be an independent and permanent advisory body, giving advice to the Australian Parliament and government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have called for members of the Voice to be chosen by First Nations peoples based on the wishes of local communities.

The announcement of the event in Hervey Bay comes as members of the Fraser Coast community came together this week to launch a push for the Yes vote.

The group, called Hervey Bay/Maryborough for Yes, is inviting the people of the Fraser Coast to help make the change happen later this year.

Former ABC journalist Kerry O'Brien.

“The aim of the group is to disseminate accurate information to enable informed voting in the referendum later this year,” the statement read.

The statement said members of the community living on Butchulla land asked to come together to support the campaign.

“This grassroots group will work together with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the lead up to the referendum.

“The non-Indigenous community are being asked to come together in response to the generosity of First Nations people to walk together and accept the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

“The local group is working with the national Yes23 campaign which offers a united movement to support an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.”

To find out more, visit the Hervey Bay/Maryborough for Yes Facebook page.