Northern Territory would back indigenous referendum bid

The Northern Territory government has ruled out establishing a regional ‘voice to parliament’ for indigenous citizens.

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner. Picture: Keri Megelus

The Northern Territory has ruled out establishing a regional “voice to parliament” even though its Labor leader supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart and ­believes a referendum on constitu­t­ionally ­enshrining an indig­enous representative body would receive majority backing in the Top End.

The move comes as the federal government embarks on a $7.3 mil­lion “co-design” process that Indigenous Australians Minis­ter Ken Wyatt hopes will deliver­ a workable model for the controversial “voice” concept and a referendum question within three years.

Territory Chief Minister Mich­ael Gunner has revealed he also does not support the creation of a truth-telling commission, anothe­r idea embedded in the Uluru statement, but thinks truth-telling could occur through local decis­ion-making agreements that may form the basis of future treaties.

“We believe the referendum would achieve majority support in the NT,’’ Mr Gunner said. “Almost a third of Territorians are Aborig­inal, and the vast majority of Territ­orians support better rights for Aboriginal people. Our local decis­ion-making agreements with ­Aboriginal Territorians enable people to decide what best suits them: this could include truth-telling­ and Makarrata processes.”

In a speech last week that reignited debate about the voice, Mr Wyatt said the concept was “not a singular voice” but rather a “cry to all tiers of government” that he hoped would involve state and territory administrations and bodies.

It remains unclear what role those entities might play or if they would co-operate. Scott Morrison is understood to oppose a constit­utionally enshrined indigenous representative body advising the federal parliament.

Territory Opposition Leader Gary Higgins backed the Morris­on government’s “stated intent­ions to improve local and regional decision-making and develop ­options for any constitutional recog­nition”, but warned that the process would take time.

“I have a large electorate with a significant number of Aboriginal constituents. Matters of treaty, reparation of wages forgone and constitutional recognition are not matters raised with me by Aboriginal people,” Mr Higgins said.

“Their priorities are … housing, health, access during the wet season and employment opportunities for them and their children.”

Mr Gunner said his government had promised Aboriginal Territorians “a treaty or treaties” and taken “enormous strides” toward­s delivering on that goal through the appointment of Mick Dodson as Treaty Commissioner.

But he argued that, with six Aborigin­al members sitting in the NT’s 25-seat Legislative Assembly, there was no need for a separate representative or advisory body.

Territory parliament has been repeatedly convulsed by political crises involving MPs from bush electorates arguing that their govern­ments are not delivering for Aboriginal voters.

Queensland opened the door last week to financial reparations for past wrongs committed against its indigenous residents.

Mr Gunner signalled that any Territory reparations would likely be practical in nature, with claims for financial compensation handed to the federal government.