Statement: Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Voice
October 14 is the date set for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum.
Jenna and my position on the Voice has not changed: it will divide our nation.
We all agree we need to do something different in order to close the gap, but another national body that does not take into consideration the local voices in our community is not the answer.
We need local solutions to local issues, not more decisions being made out of Canberra.
A race-based body in our Constitution does not build harmony. The Voice creates Constitutional division.
The lack of detail remains extremely concerning.
In December, the Labor Minister for Indigenous Australians publicly accepted my invitation to visit the mainland of Townsville and Palm Island to answer our community’s questions and provide those details. I followed up on this with her in February. I still haven’t received a response.
The minister’s silence is deafening. We don’t know how this constitutionally-enshrined Voice will impact our community.
We must walk together for a better future for all Australians.
I stand with Australians who are saying NO to the voice. We will be writing NO on October 14.
ENDS