Indigenous Voice proposals leaves room for open debate

Architects of the proposed Indigenous Voice deliberately left questions unanswered.

Marcia Langton. Picture: David Geraghty

The architects of the proposed Indigenous Voice have deliberately left some questions about its structure unanswered so that Australians can help finalise what will become the only representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Prominent researcher and academic Marcia Langton, who oversaw the voice proposals with former Australian Race Discrimination commissioner Tom Calma, told The Australian: “Most importantly, while current mechanisms for Indigenous Australians to have their voices heard do exist at many levels, there is currently no national broad-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative body and this is the gap the National Voice aims to fill.

“It is my great hope that the consultation process ... will engage a majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their existing representative bodies or corporations.

“I also hope that a majority of non Indigenous Australians will also respond to our call for their feedback.

“We have deliberately left some questions open for debate.”

The Indigenous Voice could give unsolicited advice to parliament on matters it believes are relevant, under proposed models to be tested at 60 public engagements from February.

Australians are being asked to comment on proposals for a voice that is not only responsive to requests for advice but also able to give advice without having to wait to be asked.

The National Voice, comprising two representatives from each state and territory, would be linked to up to 35 local and regional voices. The interim report suggests it may not be necessary to create those regional voices from scratch – existing bodies that work well could play a role.

Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt has urged Australians to comment on the Indigenous Voice proposals published on Saturday.

Any Australian can complete a survey on the Indigenous Voice website over the next four months. Until March 31, written submissions can be made by any member of the public. People can also attend one of the consultation events held around Australia between February and the end of April or the start of May.

“On behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the National Voice would have a responsibility and right to advise the parliament and Australian government on matters of national significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” the interim report states. “This would be a two-way interaction – the National Voice able to provide advice on matters it believes are relevant, and the parliament and Australian government able to request advice from the National Voice. The advice role of the National Voice would be both proactive and responsive.”

The report, the work of 52 Australians over the past year, says parliament and the government would be obliged to consult the National Voice on a narrow range of proposed laws exclusive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Whether the voice is legislated or given constitutional protection has been the subject of simmering debate.