On 14 October 2023, Australians will vote in a referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice enshrined in the Constitution. This week, we heard from Thirroul's Edward Birt, Chief Operating Officer at the Disability Trust, president of iBug and Bicycle Mayor of Wollongong (BYCS).
I’m voting Yes. I find the straight up wording of the Uluru Statement from the Heart truly compelling and powerful:
- “We seek constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful place in our own country. When we have power over our destiny our children will flourish. They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift to their country.”
“A gift to their country” – think about that for a moment. A gift for all to share, to be proud of and to learn from.
The Yes campaign is about moving forward together as a nation, maturing, reconciling and healing through listening to the lived experience and wisdom of our First Nations peoples and communities and about enshrining this requirement to listen to traditional owners as part of our countries constitution.
By stark comparison, the No campaign is aiming to succeed through sowing confusion, division and fear and pretending to offer an alternative.
To see the likes of famous racists lining up to vote no tells me all that I need to know about which side of history I will be proudly standing on as I vote YES on referendum day.
