Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

This morning, the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 was introduced in the other place. The voice is supposedly about giving First Nations people a say in this country. Yet this week we have seen that it is nothing but smoke and mirrors. The intention to listen to us is not real. We know that the parliament will decide which advice to take and which not. But it is now clear that the government doesn't even have the intention to let us decide what we should actually provide advice about. The voice proposal states:

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples …

However, Prime Minister Albanese thinks he knows what relates to us and what doesn't. When asked if the voice could provide advice on matters like the safeguard mechanism, he said, 'That was a strange question.' He said that the voice was about matters that directly affect First Nations people. Well, believe it or not, climate change affects us directly and its impacts hit us often harder than others. But apparently that is not something we should get a say on. The government also thinks that AUKUS doesn't affect us. But it affects our lands and waters, which we have cared for for thousands of years. If you ask me, this is really saying that we are too dumb to provide advice on complex matters. I can't tell you how much knowledge, expertise and wisdom there is in our own communities. We as people certainly don't get to judge whether something affects us or not. The comments from the PM and others are insulting to our self-determination. (Time expired)