The EEC supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its call for a Voice to Parliament 30 August 2023
This year, Australians will vote on enshrining a First Nations Voice in our national Constitution. If adopted, the Voice will be a committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who provide advice to parliament and the executive government on issues that affect their communities.
The First Nations Voice was proposed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which was released in 2017 at a meeting of over 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders. It aims to provide constitutional recognition and respect to 65,000 years of culture and tradition through advice from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on matters that affect their lives.
As do many other Australian organisations, EEC actively supports reconciliation. As part of our broader commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in Australia’s energy management sector, the EEC is committed to taking meaningful action to advance reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, increasing economic equity and supporting First Nations self-determination.
The First Nations Voice is an important step on that journey, which is why the EEC supports the adoption of the Uluru Statement, and the call for a Voice to Parliament to be enshrined in the Constitution.
Before this year’s referendum, the EEC is committed to ensuring its members and others can make an informed choice by learning more about the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and the Voice to Parliament.
If you are seeking more information on the Voice, we can recommend the following resources:
- the Uluru Statement from the Heart;
- the proposed Constitutional amendment;
- Reconciliation Australia’s Voice resources;
- the video summary provided by WA academic Braden Hill and;
- the 2022 Boyer Lecture series from Noel Pearson, which is available as a podcast.