‘Voice to parliament’ essential, indigenous leaders say

Leading indigenous figures say any constitutional change that does not include an enshrined ‘voice to parliament’ will be opposed by many Aboriginal people.

Indigenous advocate Megan Davis.

A group of leading indigenous figures has warned that any constitutional change which does not include an enshrined “voice to parliament” will be ­opposed by many Aboriginal people and fail in a referendum.

With Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt saying this week that he remained optimistic of constitutional recognition in this term of parliament, supporters­ of the Uluru Statement from the Heart urged the government against pursuing a “symbolic” change to the ­nation’s birth certificate.

A statement from Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition, which includes Uluru statement advocates Megan Davis, Noel Pearson and Pat Anderson, urged the government to reconsider its plan to decoupl­e recognition and the creation of a voice.

Under the plan, a voice would be legislated and treated as a separate process from the recognition of indigenous Australians in the Constit­ution.

“If anyone wants to ensure the success of constitutional recogn­ition and the voice, don’t separate the two,’’ the group said.

“ Anything other than a constitutionally enshrined voice will not be supported. A symbolic change to the Constitution is not supported by Australians and will fail at a referendum.

“Our poll numbers show a majority of Australians support a constitutionally enshrined voice (49 per cent support, 20 per cent opposed).”

The key recommendation in the Uluru Statement from the Hearts is for a “voice to parliament” to be enshrined in the Constitution. A constitutionally enshrined voice has been ruled out by Scott Morrison, who called it a “third chamber” of parliament, but is backed by Labor.