About 300 people filled a lecture theatre at UTS on Saturday February 18 for a community forum about the Voice to Parliament.
Hosted by local Federal Member Tanya Plibersek, the event featured Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney MP and Professor Tom Calma, Former Co-Chair of the Voice to Parliament Co-Design Group and 2023 Senior Australian of the Year.
Each speaker talked about what a Voice to Parliament meant for them and answered community questions. Local figures Norma Ingram and Shane Phillips opened and closed the event and shared their support for a Voice to Parliament.
This was the first open forum of its kind, kicking off a national Week of Action for the Voice to Parliament campaign.
Residents were so interested in the topic that some had to be turned away because the room was over capacity.
The Federal Member for Sydney said, “Our community has a proud history of coming together to fight for equality and fairness. This is a chance to take another important step on the path to reconciliation and make history.
“This referendum is about two things: recognition and consultation, it’s that simple,” Ms Plibersek said.
The referendum vote, to be conducted later this year, will give all Australians the chance to include in our constitution a permanent Voice to Parliament that can’t be removed by legislation if or when governments change.
At the conclusion of the forum, attendees were encouraged to connect with the campaigns and think about family members and friends who they can speak to about an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
Minister Plibersek has encouraged anyone interested in getting involved in local efforts to support the campaign or to collect a poster or sticker for their house to contact her office via phone on (02) 9379 0700 or at Tanya.Plibersek.MP@aph.gov.au
A new campaign website has recently been launched as well: https://yes23.com.au
