Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's been a huge and positive week. We have seen significant progress on a First Nations Voice referendum. Australia's Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Bill passed through this chamber with bipartisan support, and yesterday morning the Prime Minister announced the wording of the referendum question that will be introduced into this parliament. These are important milestones in delivering our commitment for a referendum to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice into Australia's founding document. Australians are now presented with the opportunity to walk with us to a better future for all Australians.

While I feel optimistic about the future of our country, I know that the next few months will be hard. My message to First Nations people right across this country is that you are seen, you are loved, and you are worthy. Some will use this time to try and divide us as a nation. But we must stand together, because this should be above politics. At its core, a First Nations Voice is about two things. It's about recognition and consultation: recognition of the over 65,000 years of shared history and continuous connection to this land by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and consultation through Voice, because working with communities leads to better policy outcomes.

A constitutionally enshrined Voice will give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians a say in matters that affect our communities. It will create practical and lasting change that will improve the lives of First Nations people in areas like health, housing and education. Now is the time to hear our communities' voices. The Australian people support reconciliation. They support giving First Nations people a fair go. It's time to walk together, it's time to unify our nation, and it's time for a voice.