REFERENDUM DAY IS SATURDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2023.
Australians have a long history of overcoming our differences to reach the right decision for the future of our country. Supporting Yes at the upcoming Referendum is such a decision.
On Saturday, 14 October 2023, Australians will be asked to approve an alteration to the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
IF YOU ARE UNDECIDED, THERE'S A GOOD REASON TO SUPPORT YES.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are asking us to support YES in the referendum to help make practical changes in their lives and create better opportunities for their children. That's a request we can all say yes to at the referendum. It will make all the difference.
It's that simple.
I have worked on the referendum question, so I am well-placed to reassure you that the proposal you are being asked to vote on is sensible, legally sound, and appropriate.
When does voting start In Victoria?
EARLY VOTING: You can vote early from Monday 2 October at early voting centres in your local area.
REFERENDUM DAY VOTING: You can also vote on Referendum Day, Saturday, October 14, 2023, is Referendum Day.
Early voting locations and opening times in Isaacs Electorate.
Monday to Friday - Opens 8.30 am and closes 5.30 pm.
Saturday 7 October - 9am to 4pm
Bayside Church - Google Maps Link
Address: 99-101 Argus St, Cheltenham VIC 3192
Kingston District Scout Hall Mordialloc - Google Maps Link
Address: Park St, Mordialloc VIC 3195
Referendum Day Voting Centres
All voting centre locations - Google Maps
Saturday 14 October - 8am to 6pm.
Or, find my closest early voting centre.
Follow this link to find a voting centre near you. Link
Postal Votes
Postal voting is available for anyone not able to make it to vote in-person, either on voting day or during the early voting period. Postal vote applications will close at 6pm on Wednesday 11 October 2023.
Apply for a postal vote - Link
Going Overseas?
If you’re overseas during the federal election or referendum period, you may be able to vote at an overseas voting centre or by post. Information for overseas electors
QUICK READ
- Indigenous Australians still experience the highest levels of disadvantage compared to all other Australians. So clearly, the current approach isn’t working, and it’s time for a different approach.
- For a long time, governments with good intentions have spent billions trying to deal with these issues. But they haven’t achieved lasting improvements because they haven’t listened to people on the ground.
- We can’t just be doing things the same way and expect different results.
- The VOICE is our best chance to fix the current approach, which is broken.
- Over 80% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples back the VOICE.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are asking us to support the VOICE to help make practical changes in their lives, create better opportunities for their children and to get concrete results.
- The VOICE will be a committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who will give advice to the parliament and government about issues that affect their lives.
- Putting the VOICE in the Constitution means it can’t be abolished with the stroke of a pen.
- The VOICE is an idea that comes directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Saying YES to the VOICE will make all the difference because when governments listen to people on the ground, they:
- Make better decisions.
- Get better results.
- Deliver better value for money.
- Saying YES to the VOICE means the government and the parliament listening to advice from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about what does and does not work to deliver real results.
- Saying yes to the VOICE is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the right approach in place.
- Australians from all walks of life, all faiths and cultures, and all sides of politics have given their support to the VOICE.
It's a change only you can make happen. Saying Yes is the right thing to do. It will make all the difference.
MYTH-BUSTER
The no case doesn't stack up. Link
On 27 February 2023, Monash University published Voice to Parliament: Debunking 10 Myths and Misconceptions - link.
WHAT IS THE VOICE?
- The Voice will be a committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who will give advice to the Parliament and Government on issues that affect their community.
- It will include Indigenous Australians from every state and territory, the Torres Strait Islands and representatives from the regions and remote communities.
- Members of the Voice will be chosen by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their local area and serve for a fixed period.
WHY WE NEED IT.
- There are big challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- They remain the most disadvantaged of all Australians. The gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians across all indicators of quality of life are not closing.
- Clearly, the current approach isn’t working.
- The VOICE is our best chance to fix it.
- Over 80% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are asking for Australians to support the VOICE in the referendum.
- To close these gaps, find solutions and plan for the future, the parliament and the government need to listen to advice from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about issues affecting their lives and communities.
WHY PUT IT IN THE CONSTITUTION
Putting the Voice in the Constitution gives it stability and independence, now and into the future.
Currently, parliament can vote to change or abolish Indigenous advisory bodies or laws. When this happens, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are left with no formal pathway to give advice about matters that affect their lives to help governments make better decisions.
That’s why we need a Voice that can’t be abolished with the stroke of a pen.
HOW WILL THE VOICE WORK?
The Voice is about advice.
When governments listen to people about issues that affect them, they:
- Make better decisions.
- Get better results.
- Deliver better value for money.
The Voice will give advice on key issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, from better infant health to improving services in remote areas.
Parliament and Government will still be responsible for all laws, programs and funding.
8 MORE REASONS TO SUPPORT YES
1. This idea came directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Voting Yes means:
- Supporting an aspiration put forward by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over decades.
- Accepting a proposal backed by over 80% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The call for a Voice did not come from politicians.
In 2017, after many years of work and countless conversations in every part of the country, nearly 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and elders endorsed the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Calling for recognition in the Constitution through a Voice.
Asking us to help make practical change in their lives and create better opportunities for their children.
Now we can make it a reality.
Voting Yes is an act of unity that will bring Australians together.
2. Constitutional recognition for concrete results.
Constitutional recognition is a powerful statement that will drive practical change.
Voting Yes means:
- Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia.
- Celebrating and sharing 65,000 years of history.
- Sending a powerful message to the world about Australia’s unity.
- Making a practical difference for the future.
Generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have enriched our nation with their culture and creativity, their knowledge of the land and waters, and their contribution to Australian life.
Our ancient continent is home to the world’s oldest living cultures. Recognising this in our Constitution is an inspiring way to celebrate our shared history.
Voting Yes is an act of reconciliation that will deliver real results.
Johnathan Thurston, NRL champion and coach, Gunggari man:
“Our young people deserve the chance to be their best. I work closely with schoolkids in the Yarrabah community in Queensland. I've seen the obstacles they face. Nobody understands that better than their local community. Giving them a say will mean more of our kids reach their potential. That's what the Voice is about."
3. Save money.
When governments listen to people, they get better outcomes and use funding more effectively.
Aunty Pat Anderson AO, Co-Chair Uluru Dialogues, Alyawarre woman:
"When you involve people, you make better decisions and the money you spend goes where it's needed most: to the people on the ground."
Governments from both sides have invested billions in programs that haven't fixed problems or reached communities.
A Voice will help us listen to locals and save money.
We're all better off when governments don't waste taxpayer money on things that aren't working.
4. Ensure people have a better life.
The Voice is a vehicle to deliver real improvements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in:
- Life expectancy.
- Infant mortality and health.
- Education and employment.
For a long time, governments with good intentions have spent billions trying to deal with these issues. But they haven’t achieved lasting improvement because they haven’t listened to people on the ground. The current approach is broken and the Voice is our best chance to fix it.
No-one thinks the Voice will instantly solve everything - but we will finally have the right approach in place.
Here are three examples where listening to Indigenous people has delivered better outcomes.
IMAGINE THE PROGRESS AUSTRALIA COULD MAKE WITH A VOICE.
Listening Works: Better Health Services
Community-controlled Aboriginal Medical Services employ local Indigenous people.
They run clinics and visit remote areas, providing essential services like child immunisation.
In South East Queensland, the local Aboriginal Medical Service and the community worked together to hugely increase the number of annual health checks, from 550 to over 20,000 over 10 years.
Listening Works: Better Results in Education
Families and community leaders have been involved in every step of the new Dhupuma Barker school in Arnhem Land, from lesson-planning to uniforms and lunches.
Genuine partnership has driven strong school attendance rates and better results. The ‘Dhupuma Firebirds’ Robotics team recently competed in the VEX International Championships in Texas, the first team from the Northern Territory ever to qualify.
Principal Phillip Heath says:
"Listening to the community is a game-changer in regional and remote education."
Listening Works: Indigenous Rangers
There are nearly 2,000 Indigenous Rangers working on country.
Rangers care for our environment by working to prevent bushfires, controlling feral pests and improving the health of our rivers.
Listening to Indigenous Rangers means sharing in 65,000 years of knowledge and connection to our land and waters.
Support Yes for better results around Australia. Supporting Yes to help close the gap.
5. Bring our country together.
Voting Yes means:
- Becoming reconciled with our past and moving to a better
- A change only you can make
Australia has come a long way since our Constitution came into effect in 1901.
We now rightly celebrate Indigenous Australians and their contributions to our country.
At the 1967 referendum, 90% of Australians overwhelmingly supported Yes to changing the Constitution, so Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people would be counted in the population in the same way as everyone else.
It was a unifying step forward.
Together we have a chance to take the next step - recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through a Voice.
Other nations with similar histories, like Canada and New Zealand, formally recognised their own First Peoples decades ago.
Experience shows there is nothing to fear - and so much to gain.
Rachel Perkins, Filmmaker from Alice Springs, Arrernte/Kalkadoon woman:
“Our people have spent decades campaigning for the opportunity of a better life. We’ve never been more determined or more united. The Voice is our best shot. Let’s take it.
6. The time is now.
The idea of a Voice has been decades in the making. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have put in a great deal of hard work and goodwill.
Voting No means nothing will change. It means accepting we can’t do better.
Don't risk more of the same:
- Worse life expectancy.
- Worse results in education and employment.
- Worse outcomes in health.
Supporting Yes to break this cycle and unite our nation.
Eddie Betts, Adelaide and Carlton AFL legend, Gubrun, Wirangu/Kokatha man:
“I know the Voice won’t fix everything overnight but I feel like it's the opening of a pathway to make sure we are included and respected in decision-making on issues that impact us.”
7. Practical advice that works.
The Voice will advise on practical steps to improve Indigenous health, education, employment and housing.
Putting the Voice in the Constitution gives it stability and independence, now and into the future. This means the Voice can give frank advice, without getting caught up in short-term politics.
We can’t solve all the challenges Indigenous Australians face overnight. We need action now, as well as planning for the long term.
That’s why we need a Voice that can’t be abolished with the stroke of a pen.
Legal experts have made it clear that the Voice will not have the power to prevent, delay or veto laws or decisions. The Voice is about advice.
8. Making government work better.
Voting Yes means:
- Government getting better advice and delivering better
- An addition to the Constitution backed by the
Senior lawyers and former High Court Judges have been part of this process.
What the Legal Experts Say
- Constitutionally and legally
- Will enhance our system of
- No veto power – Parliament and Government have final sign-
Robert French AC, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia 2008-2017 and Geoffrey Lindell, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Adelaide:
“The Voice is a big idea but not a complicated one. It is low risk for a high return… The Voice will provide a practical opportunity for First Peoples to give informed and coherent and reliable advice to the Parliament and the Government.”
- Joint Opinion Piece, Australian Financial Review, 4/2/2023
Now it’s up to us
- Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC MBE, former tennis world number one, Wiradjuri woman:
"Voting Yes is a chance for all Australians to celebrate the contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have made to our country and to help the next generation chase their dreams. Let's grab this moment with both hands.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have given us a once-in-a-generation chance.
We can support Yes to be part of a great unifying moment that will bring about a better future.
We can support Yes to:
- Do the right thing by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
- Give people a say on issues that affect
- Make a practical difference that improves
Let's support Yes for recognition, listening and better results.
Let's support Yes to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live better lives with more opportunities for their children.
In a spirit of unity, let’s support Yes together.
What is the Referendum question?
The question to be put to the Australian people at the 2023 Referendum will be:
"A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Do you approve this proposed alteration?"
How do I have my say in a Referendum?
On Referendum day, you will be asked to answer Yes or No to a question on a ballot paper at a polling place in your local community – much like at an ordinary federal election. Polling places will be located at local schools, churches, community halls and other public buildings. For those who are eligible, pre-poll and absentee voting options will also be available.
Myth-buster
On 27 February 2023, Monash University published Voice to Parliament: Debunking 10 Myths and Misconceptions - link.
Do you have a question about the Referendum?
call (03) 9580 4651 OR email: [email protected]
Join my local ‘YES CAMPAIGN’ to support the voice - fill out the form below.
