Mabo cited as Ken Wyatt makes his indigenous voice case
Ken Wyatt has invoked the story of Eddie Mabo in a bid to win backing for the legislated ‘voice to government’ co-design process.
Ken Wyatt has invoked the story of indigenous land rights activist Eddie Mabo in a bid to win backing for the legislated “voice to government” co-design process, declaring Aboriginal advancement has historically been incremental.
The Indigenous Australians Minister urged members of the co-design panel to be “pragmatic” in the one-year process, as the group led by Marcia Langton and Tom Calma held its first meeting at Old Parliament House in Canberra.
The voice to government will be legislated and separate from constitutional recognition, in a process that is at odds with the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
“I understand that many in this room and across the country have expressed disappointment that enshrining the voice in the Constitution is off the table,” Mr Wyatt told panel members. “I also acknowledge and respect the fact that many of you will not resile from that view. What I do ask though, is that we remain pragmatic throughout this process and focus on what can be achieved.”
After the meeting, Mr Wyatt told The Australian indigenous leaders should “reflect back on the history of our people” on incremental advancement, including when Mabo won a land rights case in the High Court which paved the way for the Native Title Act.
“When we have gained the incremental achievement, we have gone on to build bigger and better things. That is how they have to view it,” Mr Wyatt said.
“When Eddie Mabo challenged, I never thought he would win. But he persisted for 10 years and ultimately the High Court ruled and it changed the relationship between our people and non-indigenous Australians.
“We are at the beginning. So let’s consolidate the beginning and then at the end of my time others can take up the next stage of the baton and run that race.”
He said the voice would not be put in the Constitution while he was Indigenous Australians Minister. “If that happens, it will happen much further down the track,” Mr Wyatt said.
“We are indigenous Australians. We are varied by virtue of the cultural groups we belong to, but we have a common aim in having a better outcome for our children and our people.”
Mr Wyatt said there would be “more than one voice” and a national body could coexist with local, regional and state bodies.
“I don’t want one-size-fits-all,” he said.
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