Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

This change to the Constitution will not impact on our sovereignty, my sovereignty, and I would not be standing up here in support of this bill if I had any doubt in my mind that it would. The Greens have sought independent legal advice and we have had discussions with the referendum working group, the Attorney-General, the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, who joins us here today, and many others. I want to thank them for their respect for our concerns and for taking the time to hear us and address these concerns. Ceding our sovereignty is something that I—and, I assume, all First Nations people in this place—would not want to do.

The Australian Greens remain committed to the full implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and truth, treaty and voice. The referendum is the first important step. I continue to push the government for the establishment of the makarrata commission to oversee that truth telling and treaty making. My message to all Australians is that, on referendum day, I will in fact be voting yes to unite Australia, bringing us together for what I see is to be a decade of change.