Clarify voice as process advances

Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney has given Australians much-needed detail about what an Indigenous voice to parliament would advise politicians about. Issues would include domestic violence, housing, childcare, native title, land rights, cultural water allocations, housing and other policies that have a “direct effect” on Indigenous Australians. On domestic violence, the government wanted “a separate First Nations strategy’’, Ms Burney said. The voice would not advise on areas such as defence or taxation, and would focus particularly on Closing the Gap targets. Practical reconciliation must remain front and centre of Indigenous policy. The Andrews government’s latest Aboriginal Affairs report, tabled in state parliament last week, showed the gap is widening rather than closing in the state in key areas. The proportion of Indigenous children in out-of-home care in Victoria is more than 3½ times what it was 13 years ago. Indigenous family violence, hospitalisation, homelessness and self-harm rates have also increased since 2008.

Information on the role and scope of the voice will be essential as voters prepare for the referendum to establish it in the Constitution. Lack of basic detail would be likely to encourage a “no’’ vote. But further information is needed. How many members would serve on a voice to parliament, and for how long? How would they be elected or appointed? If elected by Indigenous people, how would Indigenous be defined? What will the process and the body cost taxpayers? Ms Burney reiterated that unlike the controversial Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, the voice would be an advisory body only. It would not allocate money or deliver programs. ATSIC was abolished by the Howard government, with Labor support, in 2004 in the aftermath of corruption allegations and litigation.

In their final report on the Indigenous voice co-design process to the Morrison government in July last year, professors Marcia Langton and Tom Calma recommended that the voice be made up of 24 members. It would include two members from each state and territory, two from the Torres Strait Islands, five representing the remote regions of Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia and NSW, and one representing the significant number of Torres Strait Islanders who live on the mainland. The Albanese government has not given details on the composition of the voice, but Ms Burney said Torres Strait Islanders and young people would be represented.

The minister spoke to The Australian and to Sky News as the process towards the referendum on a voice is set to move to a new stage. On Thursday, 50 members of the government’s referendum working and engagement groups – including Professor Langton, Professor Calma, Noel Pearson, Megan Davis, Mick Gooda and Tanya Hosch – will meet at Parliament House. The working group will help the government finalise the timing of the referendum and the question to be put to voters, and discuss what campaigns and messages are needed to succeed. The engagement group will attempt to build community understanding, awareness and support for the referendum.

And on Monday, the first advertising campaign from the architects of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, History is Calling, will be launched. It aims to present a positive message of hope associated with potential constitutional change. The advertisement will feature Indigenous playwright and actor Trevor Jamieson telling children about how Indigenous Australians achieved a voice to parliament with the help of people across the nation. As Uluru Youth Dialogue co-chair Allira Davis said, young voters would play a vital role in getting the referendum over the line.