Standing together for recognition

THE undersigned community organisations want to express their wholehearted support for a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum for the following reasons:

As community organisations we have been committed to walking alongside the Gunaikurnai and Bunurong peoples, upon whose land we live, on a path to reconciliation. We believe that an important step in that journey is the recognition of Aboriginal people after 65,000 years of continuous culture, in our 122-year-old Australian Constitution.

A Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution is the form of recognition that Aboriginal people requested through a national consultative process, which was documented in the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017. While there is diversity of opinion, more than 80 per cent of Aboriginal people are in support of the Voice to Parliament being inserted in the Constitution.

Placing this mechanism in the Constitution not only recognises Aboriginal people as the first nations people of Australia, it has the ability to effect real change when it comes to legislating for healthcare, employment, justice and housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people.

While the Voice to Parliament is not going to have a direct impact upon the lives of the majority of the people in our communities, we believe that a Yes vote will strengthen our community through bringing us a step closer to a common understanding of our country’s history and a step closer to reconciliation.

We recognise that this is a personal decision for every individual to consider, but we felt it was important express our view publicly. This is a challenging time for the first nations people in our communities and for reconciliation. In asking us to consider their recognition in the constitution, first nations people across the country are more vulnerable to extreme views and racism. We therefore felt it was important for those who do support them, to express this support publicly.

Mirboo North & District Community Foundation

Preserve our Forests, Mirboo North

Budgeree Hall Reserve Committee

St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Mirboo North

Mirboo North Grainstore Inc.

South Gippsland for Yes

Bass Coast South Gippsland Reconciliation Group