A number of Australians will help guide the Co-Design process to develop options for an Indigenous voice to government, with Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, today announcing the membership of the Senior Advisory Group.
Led by two prominent Indigenous leaders, Professor Tom Calma AO and Professor Dr Marcia Langton AM, the Senior Advisory Group will oversee the Co-Design process to enhance local and regional decision-making and provide a voice for Indigenous Australians to government.
“The Senior Advisory Group will advise me on options for models that will ensure that Indigenous Australians are heard at all levels of government - local, state and federal. They will be tasked with forming a National Co-Design Group, and a Local/Regional Co-Design Group,” Minister Wyatt said.
“Over the past few weeks I’ve travelled to Queensland and the Northern Territory to listen to Indigenous Australians— I am committed to being the Minister for all Indigenous Australians, and want to make sure that all of their voices can be heard loud and clear,” Minister Wyatt said.
Members of the Co-Design group:
- Professor Tom Calma AO
- Professor Dr Marcia Langton AM
- Professor Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO
- Professor Peter Buckskin PSM
- Ms Josephine Cashman
- Ms Marcia Ella-Duncan OAM
- Ms Joanne Farrell
- Mr Mick Gooda
- Mr Chris Kenny
- Cr Vonda Malone
- Ms June Oscar AO
- Ms Alison Page
- Mr Noel Pearson
- Mr Benson Saulo
- Ms Pat Turner AM
- Professor Maggie Walter
- Mr Tony Wurramarrba
- Mr Peter Yu
- Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM
“The best outcomes are achieved when Indigenous Australians are at the centre of decision‑making. We know that for too long decision making treated the symptoms rather than the cause,” Minister Wyatt said.
“The first meeting of the Senior Advisory Group will be held next Wednesday 13 November at Old Parliament House. It will be a historic occasion that will mark a shift in the way government and Indigenous Australians work in partnership to shift the pendulum and advance positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
The Morrison Government has committed $7.3 million for the Co-Design process.