Uluru Dialogue chairs vow to answer Australians’ questions on Voice to Parliament

The architects of the Uluru Statement have made a big move as they continue their push for an Indigenous Voice to parliament.

Australians will get answers to “all their questions” about the Indigenous Voice to parliament in the first major information campaign from supporters of the referendum.

The architects of the Uluru Statement are launching a national program inviting Australians to participate in online “yarning circles” to increase understanding of the Voice proposal amid growing calls for more detail.

It can exclusively be revealed the virtual 90-minute information sessions — which will include opportunities to ask questions — will run twice daily from Saturday as part of a national “week of action” to boost awareness of the Voice.

Uluru Dialogue co-chair and Alyawarre elder Pat Anderson told News Corp the group wanted to provide Australians with the “context and clarity” they needed to make an “informed decision” at the referendum due later this year.

“We will explain why we want to go for a constitutional reform, why we rejected a legislated Voice and a political history of how we got to this point,” she said.

Aunty Pat Anderson will be answering Australians’ questions about the Voice proposal. Picture: Rohan Thomson

Ms Anderson said a Voice enshrined in the constitution would not usurp the sovereignty of the parliament, and equally its advisory role should not be dismissed.

She said the awareness program marked a “shift” in the campaign to focus on informing the public rather than insular political debate.

“This is probably one of the most important things that this generation will make a decision on,” Ms Anderson said.

“Every Australian will have to decide if they’re going to vote yes, or whether they’re going to vote no and take responsibility for that decision.”

Ms Anderson said people unable to take part in sessions next week could request extra virtual briefings from Indigenous leaders behind the proposal.

“Yarning circles are a vehicle we’re going to use to try to better inform the Australian public about the Voice, what it will do, what it’s main aim is and also to counter misinformation,” she said.

A working group including Pat Anderson (left) is advising government and the opposition on the Voice. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Fellow co-chair and constitution law expert Professor Megan Davis said while many Australians had heard the Voice being discussed in the national conversation, they may not know much behind the “12-year journey to a referendum”.

“Start a Yarn provides an opportunity for Australians to hear directly from the architects of the Uluru Dialogues about the process that led to a grassroots consensus from First Nations people on the need for an enshrined Voice,” she said.

Prof Davis said she found when people learned about the background of the Voice and why Indigenous Australians believed it would make a difference, the “overwhelming majority” were “very supportive”.

“It’s important as we move towards a referendum, we give Australians every chance to learn about the Voice in a mutually respectful space,” she said.
It comes after continued division over the Albanese government’s proposal.
Last week, Aboriginal leader Warren Mundine urged the government to listen to over 100 official Indigenous-specific “voices” it already has rather than attempt to create a new one.

Originally published as Uluru Dialogue chairs vow to answer Australians’ questions on Voice to Parliament