Executive Summary of ACL Submission
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) affirms that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were the First Peoples of Australia and that they are a very valuable part of our diverse multicultural society today. While strongly supporting Constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we have concerns about ‘the Voice’ proposal. For example, it would divide Australians according to their racial background, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can already be heard in democratic institutions, it is uncertain how the Voice would practically operate, and there may be other Constitutional implications. In our view, the Government should instead focus on practically ‘Closing the Gap’ in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life outcomes.
The ACL recommends that:
- The Constitution be amended to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia.
- The Government abandon its proposal to amend the Constitution to establish the Voice.
- The Government should focus its resources on practical initiatives to ‘Close the Gap’.
The ACL strongly supports recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia in the Constitution. It is an important step towards reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other Australians. The ACL has concerns about amending the Constitution to establish the Voice. This would divide Australians according to their racial background and give one group of people additional rights not afforded to other Australians. In our view, the Voice will not remedy the concern of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people not being heard in Australia’s democratic institutions. In fact there are already sufficient means for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be heard in Australia’s democratic institutions like other Australians. The draft provisions give Parliament a broad power to make laws relating to the Voice, creating uncertainty about how it will practically operate. There may also be other Constitutional implications to consider. At this stage, in light of such concerns, the ACL does not support the establishment of the Voice.
Instead of establishing the Voice, the Government should focus its resources on practical initiatives to ‘Close the Gap’ in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life outcomes. These are nationally accepted as real and pressing issues which continue to affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and necessitate urgent action.
Source: Australian Christian Lobby
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