Learning about the Uluru Statement and 2023 Referendum

On Saturday 14 October 2023, Australians will vote in a referendum on constitutional recognition through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

In this page, we provide information and links to information about the referendum. ANTaR ACT is supporting the Yes campaign. In doing this, we are supporting the work of many First Nations people over many years to come to the invitation of Voice, Treaty, Truth set out in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. With a strong Yes vote, the nation will accept this invitation to work together for healing and justice.

We acknowledge the diversity of views and concerns of First Nations peoples around the proposal, and include links related to different perspectives as well. We support respectful and considered discussion of the proposal, issues and consequences, and hope people can use these resources to come to their own informed decisions when voting in the referendum.

Read more about our reasons for Yes at: Reasons for Yes – ANTaR ACT.

Key links for information about the referendum and Yes campaign

ANTAR: ANTAR National has two web pages related to the referendum, with information and resources:

The issues: Voice — ANTAR The constitutional enshrinement of a First Nations Voice to Parliament is crucial to recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ right to self-determination and honouring the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The campaign: Campaign for Change — ANTAR ANTAR is working with First Nations leaders and partner organisations to build widespread public support for the implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, in full. Our mission is to elevate Australia, to become the nation we need to become, through the realisation of Voice, Treaty and Truth.

Allies for Uluru: ANTAR is leading 275+ member organisations & corporations in support of Voice, Treaty, Truth: Allies for Uluru (antar.org.au)

Yes23: The overall campaign website, led by Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition: Yes 23.

For campaign events see: Events – Voice to Parliament (yes23.com.au)
For more information about the referendum see: FAQ – Yes23

Uluru Dialogue: The Uluru Dialogue represents the cultural authority of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and leads community education on the Uluru Statement’s reforms of Voice, Treaty and Truth. The Uluru Dialogue is based at the Indigenous Law Centre, UNSW Sydney. Home – Uluru Statement from the Heart. Website resources include:

Liberals for Yes
Liberals for Yes is a broad network across Australia, driven by like-minded Liberals – and people with Liberal values – who support constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians. Liberals for Yes. Kate Carnell, convenor of Liberals for Yes, explains more here, 7 June 2023: Vote Liberal? You should vote yes for an Indigenous voice to parliament | Kate Carnell | The Guardian

For information about the referendum

Recognition through a Voice – Be Ready for the Conversation: Australian Government website with information and resources about the Voice proposal and referendum process: Australian Government – The Voice. Resources include:

Information Booklet – concise summary of the proposal and process, available in English and 35 other languages. Information booklet: Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through a Voice | The Voice
Community Toolkit – resources to help you to learn more about the Voice and the referendum, including videos, posters, fact sheets, templates and more. Community toolkit | The Voice

AEC: Referendum 2023 (aec.gov.au)

Disinformation register – Referendum process – Australian Electoral Commission (aec.gov.au) This register lists prominent pieces of disinformation the AEC has discovered regarding the announced referendum on the Voice to Parliament. It also provides details of actions the AEC has taken in response.
Yes/No case pamphlet – Australian Electoral Commission (aec.gov.au) The AEC was not involved in the development of the content in the Yes and No cases. The words in the Yes and No cases are as supplied by the respective parliamentary committees.

Factchecking the Yes and No pamphlets:

The Yes and No arguments have been published without fact checking. Here’s what you need to know – ABC News
We gave the Voice to Parliament pamphlets to fact checkers. Here’s what they said | SBS News
The yes pamphlet: campaign’s voice to parliament referendum essay – annotated and factchecked | Indigenous voice to parliament | The Guardian and The no pamphlet: campaign’s voice to parliament referendum essay – annotated and factchecked | Indigenous voice to parliament | The Guardian
How do the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ cases stack up? Constitutional law experts take a look (theconversation.com) By Gabrielle Appleby, Paul Kildea and Sean Brennan, UNSW Sydney, 30 August 2023. Full report available here: Gilbert + Tobin Centre members release Expert Analysis of the ‘Official Yes/No Cases’ for the Voice | Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law (unsw.edu.au) (New 13/9/2023)

ANU First Nations Portfolio – Responding to common concerns about an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice: covers many of the common questions about the proposal Indigenous Voice to Parliament – ANU

Monash University Faculty of Law – Voice to Parliament: Debunking 10 myths and misconceptions – Monash Lens – another set of responses to common questions.

University of Melbourne – VOICEfacts is series of short videos on key topics about the referendum: VOICEfacts | unimelb.edu.au (New 13/9/2023)

Reconciliation Australia – referendum information and answers to questions Voice to Parliament – Reconciliation Australia

The Conversation – Your questions answered on the Voice to Parliament – The Conversation asked readers what they would like to know about the Voice to Parliament, answered in this article, which will be updated as new issues arise: Your questions answered on the Voice to Parliament (theconversation.com)

The Conversation, 19 June 2023: 10 questions about the Voice to Parliament – answered by the experts (theconversation.com)

Responses to issues raised

An Invitation That Should be Accepted – Leading Judges Support the Voice in Open Letter An eminent group of retired judges have published an open letter to the people of Australia in support of a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum on the Voice. 1 August 2023 An Invitation That Should be Accepted – Leading Judges Support the Voice in Open Letter – The Australia Institute

Voice Referendum: Understanding the referendum from a human rights perspective, Australian Human Rights Commission – The Commission has produced an educational resource kit to encourage the Australian public to consider the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum through a human rights lens. Voice Referendum: Understanding the referendum from a human rights perspective | Australian Human Rights Commission (New 4/9/2023)

I’m voting yes because without change, things will remain as they are – or get worse By Tanya Hosch, 23 August 2023 I’m voting yes because without change, things will remain as they are – or get worse | Tanya Hosch | The Guardian (New 4/9/2023)

How we can avoid political misinformation in the lead up to the Voice referendum By Christopher Arnott (PhD Candidate, Griffith University), 5 June 2023 How we can avoid political misinformation in the lead-up to the Voice referendum (theconversation.com) (New 4/9/2023)

If you don’t know about the Indigenous voice, find out. When you do, you’ll vote yes, by David Harper, The official referendum no case advocates closing the gap – but read carefully and you’ll find nothing that actually might do it, 1 September 2023 If you don’t know about the Indigenous voice, find out. When you do, you’ll vote yes | David Harper | The Guardian

Here’s the truth about Aboriginal ‘elites’: everything they achieved had to be fought for By Lorena Allam: Supporters of the voice to parliament have been characterised as academic, urban elites. But scratch at their history, and privilege is the last thing you will find. 7 July 2023 Here’s the truth about Aboriginal ‘elites’: everything they achieved had to be fought for | Lorena Allam | The Guardian

SNAICC – National Voice for our Children represents the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. Their CEO responded to comments from the Federal Opposition Leader about sexual abuse in of children in Alice Springs. 14 April 2023 MEDIA RELEASE: Statement from SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle in response to comment by Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in Alice Springs yesterday – SNAICC

Central Land Council (CLC) A council of 90 Aboriginal women and men elected by communities in Central Australia. The CLC put out a media release responding to comments from Senator Price. 19 April 2023 Senator Price does not speak for us or most Aboriginal people – Central Land Council (clc.org.au)

The CLC have a page Vote Yes for the Voice addressing key questions: Yes campaign – Central Land Council (clc.org.au)

Australians should be wary of scare stories comparing the Voice with New Zealand’s Waitangi Tribunal By Michael Belgrave Professor of History, Massey University, 1 May 2023. Australians should be wary of scare stories comparing the Voice with New Zealand’s Waitangi Tribunal (theconversation.com)

Reflections

Passing the Message Stick: A Guide to Changing the Story on Self-Determination and Justice Passing the Message Stick draws on the results of a two-year research project to find messages that are effective in building public support for First Nations self-determination and justice. This project has been led by a Steering Committee of pre-eminent First Nations advocates, and supported by GetUp, Original Power and Australian Progress. For more information and resources: Passing the Message Stick

A Voice in the Wilderness: Listening to the Statement from the Heart: An 8-part study produced by the Anglican Board of Mission to help the church listen to the Statement from the Heart and to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christians. A Voice in the Wilderness – Anglican Board of Mission (abmission.org)

Uniting for the Voice: Resources from the Uniting Church, including a study guide and FAQs. Voice – Uniting Church Australia

News reports and opinion articles

Below are links to some media websites (some prominent, some alternative) with lots of articles and ranges of views on the referendum.

Other perspectives

There are two sides to the ‘no’ campaign on the Voice. Who are they and why are they opposed to it?, by Bronwyn Carlson, Professor, Indigenous Studies and Director of The Centre for Global Indigenous Futures, Macquarie University, 7 Sept 2023 There are two sides to the ‘no’ campaign on the Voice. (theconversation.com) (Added 26/9/2023)

Why mob are staying silent on the Indigenous voice to parliament by Chelsea Watego, 20 July, 2023, Why mob are stayin g silent on the Indigenous voice to parliament | Chelsea Watego | The Guardian

I remain undecided on the Indigenous voice to parliament. And I’m exhausted, by Celeste Liddle, 26 Jun 2023, I remain undecided on the Indigenous voice to parliament. And I’m exhausted | Celeste Liddle | The Guardian

Aboriginal Tent Embassy (Facebook page) www.facebook.com/atesovereignty On 1 September, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy put out a statement through their Facebook page. Their position is: ‘The Constitution was enacted under the authority of the colonial Crown and its agents. It can only be changed by the occupiers, under rules which the colonial Crown and agents have enacted. As such, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy takes no position on this referendum with regards to ‘yes’ or ‘no’. The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act has never been part of our law.’

Lydia Thorpe www.lidiathorpe.com and www.facebook.com/SenatorThorpe

Thin black veils and unity tickets By Ben Abbatangelo We as a nation are being reminded, there’s no moral high ground between Labor and Liberal, and by extension, ‘yes’ and ‘no’. 1 September 2023 Voice to Parliament: Thin black veils and unity tickets. – Ben Abbatangelo – IndigenousX (New 4/9/2023)

Blackfulla Revolution (Facebook page) Range of views, questioning the referendum and constitutional recognition, supporting treaty first. Links to other Facebook pages questioning or opposing the voice. www.facebook.com/ourcountryourchoice

There is no hope in a Voice to Parliament, by Irene Watson, 29 October 2022
https://johnmenadue.com/there-is-no-hope-in-a-voice-to-parliament/

Authorised for ANTaR ACT by Janet Hunt, Dickson, ACT.

Posts