As Australians prepare to vote on the issue later this year, the Uniting Church in Australia’s National Assembly has thrown its support behind a yes vote on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament being included in our Constitution.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday released the final wording for the Voice to Parliament that will be put to Australians in a Referendum later this year.
“The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”
The National Assembly Standing Committee resolved at its recent meeting to declare the support of the Uniting Church in Australia for the proposed change in the Constitution to recognise an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
The ASC said the decision was informed by the Uniting Church’s commitment to the Covenant between the Church and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress.
As the Referendum question is considered, the ASC has urged Australians to think more deeply about and reflect upon our own practices in our relationships with First Peoples as a priority of the Covenant.
Ahead of the Referendum, the Assembly will seek to resource the Church in support of the “Yes” campaign, in light of its Covenant commitments.
The National Assembly has created a resource page on the Voice to Parliament, which can be found here
