Voice of Reason
In this compelling, fresh and imaginative essay, Megan Davis draws out the significance and the promise of this “constitutional moment” – what it could mean for recognition and justice. She presents the Voice to Parliament as an Australian solution to an Australian problem.
Discussing the Voice - the Drum
Discussing an Indigenous voice to parliament at Garma |The Drum
Ellen Fanning is joined on The Drum by deputy chair of the Gumatj Corporation Djawa Yunupingu, project officer at the University of Melbourne Mayatili Marika, national Indigenous officer at CFMMEU Thomas Mayor, NT Treaty Commissioner Mick Dodson and CEO of NACCHO Pat Turner in north-east Arnhem Land for Garma Festival 2019.
The Voice: Beyond Yes and No
This panel was hosted on Gadigal Country on the 12th April 2023 by the Centre for Global Indigenous Futures (CGIF) and Centre for Agency, Values and Ethics (CAVE). It explored important questions around the prospect of the federal Voice as well as the question of whether there should be a Voice.
Boyer lectures - Noel Pearson
Noel Pearson, Lawyer, Academic and Activist speaks about the Indigenous experience in a series of lectures for the Cape York partnership called The Boyer Lectures.
Of Particular Note are:
It’s time for true Constitutional Recognition
Heart to Heart - promoting conversations
Heart to Heart is a group of university law students in Adelaide, South Australia. Their purpose is to conduct, inspire and inform conversations about the 2023 Australian referendum for First Nations Constitutional Recognition.
Brochure- information on the referendum available in 8 languages.
Reconciliation Australia
A First Nations Voice to Parliament protected by the Constitution is a key element of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. This website contains resources and answers to common quesitons.
The Australian Sociological Society (TASA) Media Voices
Caution
Please use caution and critical reading skills when engaging with the Voice to Parliament campaign material. There are examples of misinformation and disinformation within the debate. The AEC's disinformation register is a resource to help determine whether information is reliable.
Check out voice.gov.au for information about how the Voice to Parliament would be set up and would work if the Referendum is successful. For more information and support in evaluating the information download resources from the Community Toolkit to help you to prepare for your conversations.
Advertisements - The Voice to Parliament
Indigenous representatives explain the model for the Voice
Murphy-Oates, L. (2023, January). The details on the Indigenous voice to parliament with Megan Davis [Podcast]. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2023/jan/20/the-details-on-the-indigenous-voice-to-parliament-with-megan-davis
ABC News (Australia). (2023, January 26). Professor Marcia Langton on Australia Day, the Voice and more | ABC News [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll3xbuyQSkY
ABC News (Australia). (2022, November 2). More people need to speak up for an Indigenous Voice, says Marcia Langton | 7.30 [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwixMfq0kxY
Prior, D. (Host). (2023, January 9). On country - Professor Marcia Langton: The voice co-design report speaks to David Prior about the Voice proposal [Podcast]. Soundcloud. https://soundcloud.com/davidrior/on-country-marcia-langton-the-voice-co-design-report
Dodson, P. (2023, February 8). The upcoming referendum is an extraordinary moment for our country [Video]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/SenatorDodson/status/1623221502333296641?cxt=HHwWgoDR5eXW64YtAAAA
Tingle, L. (2022, September 2022). Senator Pat Dodson takes his calls for an Indigenous Voice to the UN General Assembly [Video]. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-22/senator-pat-dodson-takes-his-push-for an/14062992?utm_campaign=abc_news_web& utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
Search Foundation. (2022, June 27). Pat Anderson on Voice, Treaty, Truth [video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/bhQekgw-LMw
ABC News (Australia). (2022, August 2). Constitution should recognise Indigenous people as first Australians, says Noel Pearson | 7.30 [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/fbHBB56AT-w
Indigenous representatives and others explain why they are critical of the Voice
Belot, H. (2023, January 31). Lidia Thorpe welcomes sovereignty assurances over voice but remains undecided. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/30/lidia-thorpe-welcomes-sovereignty-assurances-over-voice-but-remains-undecided
Butler, J. (2022, October 14). Lidia Thorpe wants action on treaty and truth before campaigning for Indigenous voice. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/14/lidia-thorpe-wants-action-on-treaty-and-truth-before-campaigning-for-indigenous-voice
ABC News (Australia). (2023, January 31). Warren Mundine labels Voice to Parliament 'waste of millions' | ABC News [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pD2u_bKU9I
Mundine, N.W. (September 6,2022). Warren Mundine: Indigenous Australia cannot be spoken for by a single Voice. The West Australian. https://thewest.com.au/opinion/warren-mundine-indigenous-australia-cannot-be-spoken-for-by-a-single-voicec-8096954
ABC News (Australia). (2023, February 6). Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says 'we don't need a voice, we need ears' | 7.30 [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/-OknGwAGXXs
SBS News. (2022, August 12). Our House Podcast: Jacinta Price shares her view on the Voice to Parliament | SBS News Podcast]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/iKD5vRG5HQA
Sky News Australia. (2022, May 24). An Indigenous Voice to Parliament may only 'divide': Price [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/RHN5gKpmMIA
Sky News Australia. (2023, February 13). Senator Jacinta Price set to head new ‘No’ Voice campaign [Video]. Sky News Australia. https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/voice-to-parliament/senator-jacinta-price-set-to-head-new-no-voice-campaign/video
ABC News (Australia). (2023, January 11). Peter Dutton seeks assurances about limits of Voice to Parliament's role | 7.30 [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/F6k0A51A980
Sky News Australia. (2022, August 2). Indigenous Voice to Parliament is 'just wrong': Tony Abbott [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN5kmGpSKRc
The Project. (2023, January 23). Voice To Parliament: Opposition calls for more details ahead of referendum [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1tofJ4hhbA
Lorena, A. (2022, November 29). Why do the Nationals oppose the Indigenous voice and do their arguments stand up to scrutiny? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/29/why-do-the-nationals-oppose-the-indigenous-voice-and-do their-arguments-stand-up-to-scrutiny
Voice to Parliament Information and Self Paced Learning
If self paced learning is preferred, then here is a simple Training module to help you understand the current proposal.
Media Coverage of the debate
The Saturday Paper has made all their articles about the Voice to Parliament Referendum available at no cost. Contributors to the Saturday paper include Barry Jones, Paul Bongiorno, Karen Middleton, and John Hewson.
**You may need to register an email address.**
Davis, M. (2020, August 17). Together our voices are the most powerful of all. Indigenous X.
https://indigenousx.com /together-our voices-are-the-most-powerful-of-all/
Menzel, K (2022, December 22). It’s our voice: So let us speak. Indigenous X.
https://indigenousx.com.au/its-our-voice-let us-speak/
Pearson, L. (2017, November,2) One person, one vote? Since when? Indigenous X.
https://indigenousx.com.au/luke-pearson-one-person-one-vote-since-when/
Pearson, L. (2023, February,22) The Voice-things I am worried about and few other thoughts along the way.
Indigenous X.
The Conversation. (n.d.). Articles on Voice to Parliament. https://theconversation.com/au/topics/voice-to-parliament-74405?page=2
Grant, S. (2020, May 25). Three years on from Uluru, we must lift the blindfolds of liberalism to make progress.
The Conversation.
Thorburn, K., Ross, J., Kinnane, S. (2023 April 13). People in the Kimberley have spent decades asking for basics like water and homes. Will the Voice make their calls more compelling? The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/people-in-the kimberley-have-spent-decades-asking-for-basics-like-water-and-homes-will-the voice-make-their-calls-more-compelling202606
ABC News In-depth. (2023, February 3). The year of the Voice | Q+A Highlights | ABC News [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5uTAZM3_gM
ABC News In-depth. (2022, July 6). What is a First Nations Voice to parliament and how close is Australia to having one? |ABC News [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv3xbZfNG0Q
Bolt, A. (2022, August 9). Australia ‘on the brink’ of break-up amid Voice to Parliament push [Video]. Sky News Live.
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Sky News Australia. (2022, August 2). ‘Don’t think that’s relevant’: Bolt and Kenny clash on Indigenous Voice to Parliament [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E6FNdD_xfc
Sky News Australia. (2022, September 25). Voice to Parliament a ‘fraud from the beginning’ [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3kpiKwsXnc
Sky News Australia. (2023, January 9). Peter Dutton made a 'very reasonable point' about the Voice to Parliament [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/5Rp9ynNJ2dQ
Sky News Australia. (2022, September 4). The Voice debate: Tackling one of the biggest issues of a generation [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exI7Ss5LRLE
Allam, L. (2023, December 5). What is the Indigenous voice to parliament and how would it work? The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/05/what-is-the-indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-australia-how-would-it-work-why-should-we-have-it-explainer
Butler, J. (2023, February 1). Voice to Parliament: Monarchist League blasts no campaign’s push for symbolic recognition as a ‘furphy’. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/01/indigenous-voice-to-parliament- referendum--monarchist-league-blasts-no-campaign
Collard,S. (2022, February 1). Referendum on Indigenous voice to parliament a ‘complete waste’ of money, Lidia Thorpe says. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/sep/01/referendum-on-indigenous-voice-to-parliament-a-complete-waste-of-money-lidia-thorpe-says
Karp,P. (2023, January 29). Voice to Parliament no campaign to push for recognition of migrants as well as Indigenous people. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/29/voice-to-parliament-no-campaign-to-push-for-recognition-of-migrants-as-well-as-indigenous-people
Lewis, P. (2023, February 7). By turning his back on bipartisanship, Peter Dutton is poised to lose either way the voice referendum goes. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2023/feb/07/bipartisanship-peter-dutton-opposition-indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-vote
Murphy, K. (2023, February 5). Albanese declares Indigenous voice won’t impact First Nations sovereignty. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/05/albanese-declares-indigenous-voice-wont-impact-first-nations-sovereignty
McLeod, C. (2022, November 28). Nationals announce they will oppose Indigenous Voice to parliament. News.com.au. https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/nationals-announce-they-will-oppose-indigenous-voice-to-parliament/news-story/1b8234944e94ba8fbb3068f21dbabbae
Reading List
Allam, L. (2023, February 12). Linda Burney warns MPs who walked out on apology not to ‘repeat the mistake’ with the voice. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/12/linda-burney-warns-mps-who-walked-out-on-apology-not-to-repeat-the-mistake-with-the-voice
Ali MC. (2022, October 5). Australia moves to give Indigenous people a voice to parliament. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/7/australia-moves-to-give-indigenous-people-a-voice-to-parliament
Australian Government. (2023). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. https://voice.niaa.gov.au/#
Bourchier, D. (Host), Higgins, I. (Reporter), Burney, L., Langton, M., & Leeser, J. (Contributors). (2018, November 29). A bi partisan committee is urging the federal government to reconsider its opposition to establishing an Indigenous advisory body or voice to the parliament [Video]. Informit. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/tvnews.tsm201811290094
Duffield, L. (2023, January 31). Voice to Parliament: 'Yes' vote has many enemies. Independent Australia. https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/voice-to-parliament-yes-vote-has-many-enemies,17190
French, R. & Lindell, G. (2023, February 4). Voice is low risk but high return. Financial Review. https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/voice-is-low-risk-but-high-return-20230201-p5ch8e
Hobbs, H. & Jones, B.T. (2022). Egalitarian nationhoods: A political theory in defence of the voice to parliament in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Australian Journal of Political Science 57(2), 129–144. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10361146.2022.2028720
Galloway, T. (2023, January 29). What to expect from the Yes and No campaigns for the Voice. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/what-to-expect-from-the-yes-and-no-campaigns-for-the-voice-20230127-p5cfxo.html
Grattan, M (2023, April 12) Politics with Michelle Grattan: Professor Marcia Langton on the Voice’s powers and potential. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-professor-marcia-langton-on-the-voices-powers-and-potential-203672
Larkin, D. & Galloway, K. (2021). Constitutionally entrenched voice to parliament: Representation and good governance. Alternative Law Journal, 46(3), 193–198. https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/agispt.20211018055206
McGlade, H. (2023, January 16). Voice will empower us, not undermine sovereignty. National Indigenous Times. https://nit.com.au/16-01-2023/4736/voice-will-empower-us-not-undermine-sovereignty
McIlroy, T. (2022, December 13). What is the Voice to parliament and would it (really) change anything? Financial Review. https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/what-is-the-voice-to-parliament-and-would-it-really-change-anything-20221130-p5c2gd
McIlroy, T. (2023, February 5). Voice advocate issues disinformation, ‘bothsidesism’ warning. Financial Review. https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/voice-advocate-issues-disinformation-bothsidesism-warning-20230203-p5chu0
Moore, T. (2023, January 29). ‘We need to turn this corner together’, Qld minister says of Voice. The Sydney Morning Herald.https://www.smh.com.au/politics/queensland/we-need-to-turn-this-corner-together-qld-minister-says-of-voice-20230129-p5cg8w.html
Morris, S. (2023, February 3). The no side in the voice referendum has misread the mood among migrants. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/03/the-no-side-in-the-voice-referendum-has-misread-the-mood-among-migrants
National Indigenous Australians Agency. (2021). Indigenous Voice: Discussion paper. Australian Government. https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2021-01/apo-nid310489.pdf
National Indigenous Australians Agency Senior Advisory Group. (2021). Terms of reference Senior Advisory Group. Australian Government. https://www.niaa.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/senior-advisory-group-tor_0.pdf
O’Neil, J. (2021). Designing an Indigenous voice that empowers: How constitutional recognition could strengthen first nations sovereignty. Alternative Law Journal, 46(3), 199–204. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/INFORMIT.096065932243597
Pocock, D.[authorised]. (2023). The Voice. David Pocock. https://www.davidpocock.com.au/information
Renju, J. (2023, 30 January). Australian group launches campaign to stop Indigenous voice in parliament. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australian-group-launches-campaign-stop-indigenous-voice-parliament-2023-01-30/
Sakkal, P. (2023, January 30). Yes and no Voice campaigns battle it out for the migrant vote. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/yes-and-no-voice-campaigns-battle-it-out-for-the-migrant-vote-20230130-p5cgju.html
Tanuki,T. (2023, January 30). Indigenous arguments against the Voice exist — but the media is hiding them. Independent Australia. https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/indigenous-arguments-against-the-voice-exist--but-the-media-is-hiding-them,17187
Visentin, L. (2022, July 27). Indigenous Voice could drive a wedge between Australians: Price. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/indigenous-voice-could-drive-a-wedge-between-australians-price-20220727-p5b524.html
Visentin, L. (2023, January 2). Voice more important than ‘warm and fuzzy’ push to change Australia Day. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/voice-more-important-than-warm-and-fuzzy-push-to-change-australia-day-megan-davis-20230102-p5c9vd.html
Visentin, L., Crowe, D, & Sakkal, P. (2023, February 2). Indigenous Australians to be formally recognised in Voice proposal. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/indigenous-australians-to-be-formally-recognised-in-voice-proposal-20230202-p5chgs.html
Yu, P. (2023, January 14) . Indigenous voice our very best chance of finally Closing the Gap. TheAustralian. http://ezproxy.uws.edu.au/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/indigenous-voice-our-very-best-chance-finally/docview/2765299590/se-2