Reconciliation in Action | Expectation in the air

It was the evening of the recent 2023 Dungala Kaiela Oration at the Rumbalara Football Netball Club.

In a room rich in stories and pride.

A room full of cultural significance.

Premiership pennants hanging from the ceiling, each one a story of strength, of determination, of achievement.

The iconic photo of St Kilda legend Nicky Winmar standing defiantly in front of the opposition crowd: a crowd unable to see and acknowledge the strength and athleticism of the player.

A crowd that could only focus on the colour of his skin.

Again, strength, determination, achievement.

A time when standing up took courage and added its contribution to a story of change.

The Nanyak Dreaming wall holding such history.

Faces from the past looking over what has become.

Faces who worked for community, for change.

Faces that will bear witness to the next part of the story of change about to be told in this space.

The next page in the unfolding story of this nation.

The words on the wall – Wala, Woka.

Echoes from the past, heard as language of the now and part of the shaping of the future.

Wala – water.

Woka – land.

The language of freshwater people, people of the Dungala Kaiela.

A space full of pride. A sense of purpose.

The conversations drifted away, people settled, quietly waiting.

Healing smoke rising from the coolamon being carried in by Dixon “Dixie” Patten.

Cleansing smoke that was walked around the room allowing each person to be touched by its gentle cloud.

A generous, inclusive, welcoming gesture.

Senior Yorta Yorta Elder Uncle Colin Walker’s kind words of welcome.

Belinda Briggs’ words spoken in an ancient language, “to introduce you to country through me.”

To remind us of the land, water, sky, animals, plants and their importance in giving context to relationships and understandings.

Professor Megan Davis, the Balnaves Chair in Constitutional Law at UNSW, the person who first read the Uluru Statement from the Heart to the people of Australia back in 2017, stepped to the stage – the 2023 Dungala Kaiela Orator.

Starting with some background, Prof Davis reminded us that in 1901, Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples were expressly excluded in the Constitution.

The referendum in 1967 was the correction to this, to bring things back to a neutral position.

But the 1967 referendum did not result in any empowerment for First Nations peoples.

The formal process for recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples began 12 years ago.

It has involved seven formal processes and 10 reports over the past decade: “that’s a lot on anything in Australia,” Prof Davis noted.

The form of recognition requested in the Uluru Statement from the Heart — the result of a comprehensive process of consultation across the country — is for a Voice that is both symbolic and substantive.

It acknowledges First Peoples’ unique place in the history of this vast continent whilst at the same time addressing the need for structural reform.

The proposed Voice will sit outside Parliament.

It is to be an advisory body, a Voice to Parliament.

It does not have the powers and responsibilities of the House of Representative.

As many leaders taking part in the Uluru dialogues made very clear, they were not interested in becoming politicians.

They wanted to continue to advocate for their communities.

To have a seat at the table and a say in decisions about their communities, to be listened to.

A Voice would give “mob a seat at the table” when laws and policies are made about First Peoples’ lives.

It leads to better quality law and policy-making resulting in better outcomes on the ground

It is such a straightforward and modest request.

Having input into decisions about your family or community is an idea that most Australians would understand.

Prof Davis explained how Parliament makes laws and how this is the body that will determine the composition, functions, powers and procedures of the Voice.

This point seems to have been lost in much of the noise about the referendum.

Parliament will be given this authority in the Constitution by the addition of one additional chapter, specifically point iii.

Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:

i. there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;

ii. the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

iii. the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.

There is no re-writing of the Constitution and no alteration of the primacy of the Parliament as Australia’s law-making body.

The Constitution is hard to change to ensure that it can provide consistency and certainty to the nation.

However, while the Australian Constitution can be considered successful for most Australians, it has failed Indigenous Australians.

All Australians can see that the status quo and more-of-the-same has not worked and despite, the good intentions of all governments, there has been a profound failure of policies and laws to make a difference.

In the rooms of the Rumbalara Football Netball Club we were welcomed generously, with care and respect.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart — the invitation to walk together for a better future was also offered with care, respect and love.

It offers a roadmap to a solution: recognition through a Voice to Parliament.

To recognise First Nations peoples in our Constitution and to give them a Voice on the policies that affect them.

It really is a simple proposition.

This is a historical time in our nation’s story.

A once-in-a-generation opportunity for Australians to decide what type of Australia we want to wake up to on October 15.

Do we want a backward-looking nation, characterised by fear, negativity and pessimism, content to turn its face from our most marginalised people and to accept the shocking conditions under which many of them live?

Or do we want a forward-looking Australia, a nation that recognises the unique place First Nations people occupy in the rich history of this continent, that wants a fair go for all its people, and has faith that together we can write the next chapter of Australia’s story together?

Hope versus fear.

So, on October 14, when you are standing ready to write your response to the referendum question, search your heart and consider the legacy you are leaving our nation and future generations.

And consider whether you can respond to the gracious generosity in the invitation offered to all of us in the Uluru Statement from the Heart with similar generosity.

To read the Uluru Statement from the Heart visit: https://ulurustatement.org/the-statement/view-the-statement/