Outlines the conversations and consultations that led to the development and delivery of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which is the coming together of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to seek a Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Australian Constitution.
Problems and Purpose
In its current form, the Australian policy-making process does not allow for adequate inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. This results in policy that is made "for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people rather than with them." (emphasis added) [1]
Background History and Context
Australia has not yet officially recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in its Constitution or through a treaty; it is the only country in the world yet to do so. [2] This is not due to the lack of petitions or efforts on the part of Australia's First Peoples. There have also been attempts by the Australian government to generate momentum in this space, such as through committing to hold a referendum to change the Constitution and establishing expert panels to guide this process. This led to the creation of a Referendum Council which sought to engage in dialogue and hear from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about the kind of change they want and what is needed to achieve that. [3]
This then led to a four-day First Nations National Constitutional Convention at Uluru in May 2017 involving 250 Indigenous delegates from across Australia to come to an agreement about the "most meaningful and appropriate way to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the Constitution". This became known as a Voice to Parliament. [4]
Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities
Referendum Council
Participant Recruitment and Selection
Methods and Tools Used
Deliberation dialogues
Consultation
What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation
A Referendum Council was created by the government at the time to advise them on the steps needed to hold a referendum into Indigenous constitutional recognition. [5]
The Referendum Council designed a series of dialogues to be conducted around the country, which were predominantly hosted by land councils. The dialogues were structured to be made up of 60% traditional owners, 20% First Nations organisations and 20% First Nations individuals. The reasoning behind this was to "preference the voice of the cultural authority in the country." These dialogues culminated into the National Convention on Constitutional Recognition at Uluru. [6]
The Uluru Statement from the Heart, presented at the National Convention, was developed from these many regional "deliberative dialogue" processes that took place amongst a section of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities from around Australia. Thirteen dialogues were undertaken by the Referendum Council to generate an "informed consensus" [7], or at the very least "common ground" [8], among First Nations communities about what "meaningful constitutional recognition" would look like. [7] [8]
A range of "reform" issues were generated from these dialogues, which were ordered based on priority. The first was a voice to parliament, the second a Makarrata commission or "form of agreement making", then truth-telling. [9]
While there were many regional dialogues to gather a general understanding of what constitutional recognition can and should look like, there were still many First Nations people who were against this pursuit. Some said their voices were "silenced" in the dialogues and at the National Convention on Constitutional Recognition, with some attending the convention to protest against it and others walking out of the convention. [10]
Influence, Outcomes, and Effects
Analysis and Lessons Learned
See Also
References
[1] From the Heart (2022) What is a Voice to Parliament? Available from: https://fromtheheart.com.au/what-is-a-voice-to-parliament/
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Davis, M. & Williams, G. (2021). Everything you need to know about the Uluru Statement from the Heart. UNSW Press.
[6] Davis, M., O'Shane, T. & Lyall, A. (2018). NQLC Voice to Parliament.[Conference presentation]. 2018 Native Title Conference. Broome, WA. https://aiatsis.gov.au/publication/116594
[7] Appleby, G. & Davis, M. (2018). The Uluru Statement and the Promises of Truth. Australian Historical Studies. 49(4), 501-509, DOI: 10.1080/1031461X.2018.1523838, p. 501
[8] Jenkins, K. (2017, May 31). Statement sets out priorities for future. Koori Mail. Issue 652. pp. 7. https://aiatsis.gov.au/collection/featured-collections/koori-mail?combine=2017&items_per_page=24
[9] Davis, M., O'Shane, T. & Lyall, A. (2018). NQLC Voice to Parliament.[Conference presentation]. 2018 Native Title Conference. Broome, WA. https://aiatsis.gov.au/publication/116594
[10] Jenkins, K. (2017, May 31). People claim their views were silenced. Koori Mail. Issue 652. pp. 6-7. https://aiatsis.gov.au/collection/featured-collections/koori-mail?combine=2017&items_per_page=24
