The first meetings of the Referendum Working Group and the Referendum Engagement Group will be held in Canberra today.
The groups will work with Government on the next steps to a referendum in this term of Parliament to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution.
The Referendum Working Group, co-chaired by Minister Linda Burney and Special Envoy Patrick Dodson, includes a broad cross-section of representatives from First Nations communities across Australia.
They will provide advice to the Government on how best to ensure a successful Referendum and focus on the key questions that need to be considered in the coming months, including:
- The timing to conduct a successful referendum;
- Refining the proposed constitutional amendment and question;
- The information on the Voice necessary for a successful referendum
A second meeting will be held with the Referendum Engagement Group, which includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives from the across the country, including: land councils, local governments and community controlled organisations.
They will provide advice about building community understanding, awareness and support for the referendum.
Today’s meetings follow the Prime Minister’s landmark speech at the Garma Festival in north east Arnhem Land, where he released the possible wording of the proposed constitutional amendment and question on the Voice to be put to the Australian people.
Attribute to the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese:
“The constitution is our nation’s birth certificate.
“It should be a source of pride that all Australians share this continent with Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples, the oldest continuous civilisation on earth.
“This should be recognised with a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.”
Attribute to Minister Linda Burney:
“This is an important next step on the road to the referendum for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
“The work of the Referendum Working Group and the Referendum Engagement Group will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander views are front and centre in the decision making leading up to the Referendum.
“They will provide us with advice about how to harness the goodwill in the Australian community on this important nation building project.
Attribute to the Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus:
“This Uluru Statement is an extraordinary act of generosity, friendship and reconciliation.
“The Referendum Working Group will work closely in partnership with government on the road forward.
Attribute to the Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Senator Patrick Dodson:
“This Group is a clear demonstration of our strong commitment to go out and consult as we work to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full.
We’ve got a clear plan to get us from Garma to referendum day.
The first step on that road is to listen to Indigenous Australians on how best to ensure we deliver a successful referendum.”
REFERENDUM WORKING GROUP
Mr Dale AgiusSA Commissioner for First Nations Voice
Ms Pat Anderson AOCo-chair of Uluru Dialogue
Ms Geraldine AtkinsonCo-chair, First People’s Assembly of Victoria
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Professor Tom Calma AOCo-chair, Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Chancellor, University of Canberra
Co-chair, Reconciliation Australia
Professor Megan DavisCo-chair of Uluru Dialogue
Pro-Vice Chancellor Indigenous at UNSW
Mr Rodney DillonTasmanian Regional Aboriginal Community Alliance
Mr Sean GordonManaging Director, Gingee Group
Councillor, University of Newcastle
Dr Jackie Huggins AM FAHACo-chair, QLD Treaty Advancement Committee
Co-chair, National Apology Foundation
Professor Dr Marcia Langton AOCo-chair, Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Associate Provost, University of Melbourne
Mr Thomas MayorFrom the Heart
Mr Tony McAvoy SCNT Treaty Commissioner
Barrister
June Oscar AO (ex officio)Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
Mr Dean ParkinFrom the Heart
Mr Noel PearsonFounder of Cape York Institute
From the Heart Advisory Group
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Ms Sally ScalesUluru Dialogue member
APY Artist
Mr Napau Pedro Stephen AMChairperson, Torres Strait Regional Authority
Mr Marcus StewartCo-chair, First People’s Assembly of Victoria
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Ms Pat Turner AMConvenor of Coalition of Peaks
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
CEO of National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
The Hon Ken Wyatt AMFormer Minister for Indigenous Australians
Professor Peter Yu AMMember of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Vice President, First Nations at ANU
Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu AMChairman, Yothu Yindi Foundation
REFERENDUM ENGAGEMENT GROUP
Membership of the Referendum Engagement Group will include those on the Working Group and additional people including:
Mr Thomas AmagulaDeputy Chair, Anindilyakwa Land Council
Cr Ross AndrewsMayor, Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
Australian Local Government Association representative
Mr Nathan AppoInstitute of Urban Indigenous Health
Professor Muriel Bamblett AOCEO, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
Coalition of Peaks representative
Ms Jennifer BealeButucarbin Aboriginal Corporation
Professor Jack BeetsonAustralian Centre for Agriculture & Law – University of New England
Mr Dameyon BonsonFounder, Black Rainbow Living Well
Ms Wendy BrabhamWathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative
Mr Paul Briggs OAMExecutive Chair, Kaiela Institute
Mr Gavin BrownCEO PwC Indigenous Consulting
Mr Selwyn ButtonChair, The Lowitja Institute
Mr Nicholas CameronChair, Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance
Ms Shirleen CampbellTangentyere Women’s Safety Group
Cr Danny ChapmanChairperson, NSW Aboriginal Land Council
Ms Fiona CornforthCEO, Healing Foundation
Dr Josie DouglasExecutive Director of Policy, Central Land Council
Ms Katrina Fanning PSMMember of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Mr Tyronne GarstoneCEO, Kimberley Land Council
Mr Mick GoodaCo-chair, QLD Treaty Advancement Committee
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Mr Damian GriffisCEO of First Peoples Disability Network
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Ms Tanya HoschExecutive General Manager, Inclusion & Social Policy, AFL
Mr Paul HouseNgambri Local Aboriginal Land Council
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Mr Gibson Farmer IllortaminniChairman, Tiwi Land Council
Ms Deborah KatonaSenior Manager Policy, Northern Land Council
Cr Esma LivermoreDeputy Mayor, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
Australian Local Government Association representative
Mr Jamie LoweNational Native Title Tribunal
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Dr Hannah McGladeCurtin Law School
Mr Wayne MillerChair, Far West Community Leadership Group
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Cr Phillemon MosbyMayor, Torres Strait Island Regional Council
Australian Local Government Association representative
Mr Kado MuirActivist & Impact Entrepreneur at Dilji
Social Anthropologist
Ms Karen MundineCEO, Reconciliation Australia
Ms Teela ReidUluru Dialogue Group
University of Sydney
Cr Matthew RyanMayor, West Arnhem Regional Council
Australian Local Government Association representative
Mr Shane SturgissBlaQ Aboriginal Corporation
Mr Ian Trust AONational Chair, Empowered Communities
Chairman, Wunan
Mr Les TurnerCEO, Central Land Council
Dr Tracy Westerman AMFounding Director, Indigenous Psychological Services
Mr Richard WestonDeputy Children’s Guardian for Aboriginal Children and Young People (NSW)
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Mr Sammy WilsonTraditional Owner, Uluru
Former Chair, Central Land Council
Mr Scott WilsonLead Convenor of SA Aboriginal Community Controlled Network
Coalition of Peaks representative
Professor Asmi WoodProfessor, ANU College of Law