Prime Minister Anthony Albanese states that an Indigenous voice in parliament is an extended hand of friendship from First Nations people to the rest of Australia.
During his visit to Thursday Island, Mr. Albanese met with the Torres Strait Regional Authority and restated his support for his government’s decision to display all three national flags during news conferences.
He said, “We didn’t raise a fuss, we didn’t issue a press statement; we just did it.”
There are flags that represent the entirety of our nation. It is an opportunity to discuss our entire past.
Mr. Albanese swore that this would not be his final visit to the region in his capacity as prime minister, and he assured community leaders that he wanted to leave “lasting footprints” and bring about genuine change.
“This is why it is so vital that Australians are given the chance to join that extended hand of friendship,” he explained.
“The Uluru declaration is a very generous handout from those who are in a position to fill the void.”
I view this as something that will help all Australians, not just Indigenous Australians.
Mr. Albanese, Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, and Queensland senator Nita Green have traveled to the Torres Strait to discuss what an Indigenous voice may look like.
“The voice… is a very small request in my opinion, but it is a request that should be granted unconditionally,” he stated.
As a start toward enhancing the participation that must occur for national reconciliation,
Last month, in a speech at the Garma festival, he outlined a potential referendum issue to establish an Indigenous voice in the constitution.
The suggested question would read, “Do you support amending the constitution to include an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice?”
Mr. Albanese stated that he desired in-depth discussions regarding the potential shape of this voice.
On the second day of his tour, the prime minister will meet with female community leaders in the Torres Strait on Friday morning.
Ms. Burney met with Indigenous ministers from state and territory governments on Wednesday to discuss the implementation of the voice to parliament and the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
All of the state and territory ministers agreed to support the federal government’s efforts to enshrine the voice in the constitution.
A statement read, “All governments reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to working together to enhance practical outcomes for First Nations peoples.”
The ministers discussed the implementation of the voice, including at the regional level.
The joint council for narrowing the gap is scheduled to convene again at the end of the month, with progress on the national agreement on the agenda.