Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Green. A bill to update the Referendum Machinery Act will shortly be introduced to the parliament. This will take into account advice from the Referendum Working Group, which has set out key principles for the Voice, which Senator Dodson has spoken about in this place. It provides independent advice to the parliament and the government. It is chosen by and representative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is empowering; it is community led; it is inclusive; it is respectful; it is culturally informed and gender balanced, and includes youth; it is accountable and transparent; and it works alongside existing structures. Let us remember what was said in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. This is what was said to the nation:

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.

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