Land councils in mix for Indigenous ‘voice’

Proposals for an Indigenous voice due to go to federal cabinet do not prioritise ATSIC-style elections as a means of ­appointing members.

Indigenous leader Marcia Langton. Picture: Aaron Francis

Proposals for an Indigenous voice due to go to federal cabinet next month do not prioritise ATSIC-style elections as a means of ­appointing members or representatives.

The models for the voice to be presented to Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt within days rely on land councils and other organisations that already work in the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The final meeting of the voice’s senior advisory group is due to be held on Wednesday.

The proposals are the result of almost a year of work overseen by Indigenous leaders Marcia Langton and Tom Calma. Mr Wyatt appointed them to lead three groups comprising 52 people — most of them Indigenous — as they co-designed what the voice could look like.

One group ­focused on how a voice could work at a local level, another concentrated on how the voice could work at a regional level, while the senior advisory group explored the fine detail of an Indigenous voice.

In an essay published on The Australian’s website today, professors Langton and Calma write that in our nation’s recent history Indigenous voices have been largely absent in the decision-making processes that govern their daily lives. They believe the way Indigenous groups worked with government to prevent the COVID-19 reaching Aboriginal communities is an example of how the voice can result in ­important change.

“An Indigenous voice is not a scary proposition. As the pandemic response demonstrates, a direct line from our diverse communities to decision-makers is ­effective and has, to date, beaten the biggest crisis to face our ­nation in generations,” they wrote.

If approved by cabinet, the proposed models for the voice will be condensed into a discussion paper that will be open to any Australian for public comment.

“The landscape we are working within is complex, there is no one-size-fits-all answer,” Professor Langton and Professor Calma wrote.

“Our proposals will provide a framework to support what is already happening in many areas around the country, although disjointed and lacking a national body, where existing ­Indigenous advisory bodies and councils ­operate.”

The Morrison government has rejected the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart’s call for an Indigenous voice enshrined in the constitution, instead pledging to legislate it.