Gordon Reid (Robertson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023. To those in this chamber and those listening at home and those who will inevitably watch this recording, I have something to say, and I'm going to be brutally honest. If you are honestly okay, satisfied and content with the rates of recidivism and satisfied and content with the high rates of incarceration of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters, then vote no. If you are honestly okay and satisfied and content with the poor health outcomes and higher levels of chronic disease—nephropathy, hypertension, diabetes—then vote no. And if you are honestly okay and satisfied and content with the educational outcomes of our First Nations children and young people—our youngest and our future—then vote no.

But if you want to see a country united and standing as one, then vote yes. If you want to see a body formed that, at the end of the day, is people having a say about the issues that affect them, then vote yes. If you want to see the recognition of 75,000 years of language, 75,000 years of culture and 75,000 years of love, then vote yes. If you want to make sure the voices of those who have been forgotten, who have been marginalised and who have been oppressed are present and loud, then vote yes.

A lot of you in this chamber know my nan, Aunty Robyn, an incredible Aboriginal elder and leader in my community. Nan is a part of my story, a part of our community's story and now a part of this parliament's story. Nan was one of seven children, and she spent her childhood in what was inhumanely branded 'the camps'. Nan grew up where severe abuse and poverty were the norm. The threat of not living or sleeping somewhere safe and secure was real. The threat of not eating was real. Nan's story is not an isolated one. It's in parts of our vast land that this continues to happen. In 2023, in one of the wealthiest, most advanced nations on the face of this earth, this continues to happen to First Nations people. That is shameful. If we'd been doing it right then we would be seeing drastic changes amongst our communities, but we're not. We need to do better, and we can do better.

We have a chance to do better together at the end of this year by voting yes. It all starts with this bill, the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 bill. This bill is what is required to hold a referendum to amend our nation's birth certificate for the better. This bill is what is required to constitutionally recognise our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters and establish a voice. Once passed, the referendum will be held in the second half of this year.

We hear about two words frequently: recognising and listening. I want to focus on the listening aspect for a moment. It's a little off topic but highly relevant to this debate. In medicine it is often said that taking a patient history is the most important part of clinical practice—more important than the clinical examination and more important than pathology testings or scans. This is because, with the patient history and by listening to the patient, more often than not you can obtain a provisional diagnosis, begin treatment and ultimately save a life or prevent further deterioration—all from listening. That is the importance of listening, and that is the power of listening. It is this listening that leads to better laws and policies, and therefore better outcomes. It's not a radical idea. It's not radical to let the people whose lives will be affected by a law be involved in the discussion. That is not divisive. That is not a threat to our way of life. That is not a threat to our system of government. That is what a fair and equal society looks like. I think I've provided enough detail to the chamber as to why listening is important.

As a man of Wiradjuri heritage, a voice to parliament is essential. It will ensure that we as a united country address the injustices of the past and create meaningful structural change to deliver a better future. This is our best chance to come together as one, to rise together as one and to move into the future as one. As a nation, we need practical measures that will address the issues affecting First Nations communities, and that is what the Voice will do. It will give local people and local communities a say in areas that affect them.

Let's talk equality. I've listened in the media today and I've sat in this chamber listening to the opposition talk today about this being divisive and this being unequal. I challenge all of you who sit opposite to visit First Nations communities across the country and ask them how equal they have been made to feel. Based on my conversations with many, I know the answer. This is not putting one race above another. This is not putting First Nations people above other communities. This is about grasping the hand of a generous statement from the heart to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

I now want to talk on an issue that has been brought into this debate: 'We have 11 First Nations MPs and senators now. Why do we need a voice?' Essentially, 'Why do we need more?' We have 11 First Nations MPs and senators in the Australian parliament, and we all have different circumstances, different life experiences, different political party biases and different electorate responsibilities. I'll add that, while this parliament has 11, the next parliament may have none. The Voice will not be MPs or senators. It will not be politicians. It will be an independent advisory body comprising First Nations people from First Nations communities. It will in fact be not just one voice but the voice of many coming together as one, and it will be enshrined in our Constitution. It cannot be replaced or discarded by future governments.

Debate interrupted.

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