Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney has announced members of the Referendum Working Group, including her predecessor Ken Wyatt, which will establish the path to a Voice to Parliament.
Speaking at the Centre for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) State of the Nation conference at the National Museum of Australia, Ms Burney outlined a “working group of First Nations leaders” with Senator Pat Dodson and herself as co-chairs.
The Referendum Working Group will collaborate with the government to consider and navigate “the big questions” in the next following months.
The minister said getting the groups working is the first step, with building a “broad consensus of community support” and “harnessing the goodwill in the Australian community to take Australia forward” being the following.
“[There are] many more steps to be taken on the road to the referendum and let’s be clear government cannot lead this referendum,” she said.
“This will come from the grassroots, from communities, because the Voice is a nation-building project."
The group of 22 includes:
- Co-chairs of Uluru Dialogue Professor Megan Davis and Pat Anderson AO
- Co-chairs of the Indigenous Voice co-design group Professor Marcia Langton AO and Professor Tom Calma AO
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO, CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Pat Turner AM and former Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt.
Former minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt and Coalition of Peaks lead convener Pat Turner. Source: AAP
Engagement Group for community focus
Ms Burney said the work of the group will be “complemented by the establishment of a second group, the referendum engagement group”.
The engagement group will work to engage First Nations communities and advocate for the Voice to Parliament to raise awareness, understanding and support.
Members include Noongar human rights lawyer Dr Hannah McGlade, Healing Foundation CEO Fiona Cornforth, Indigenous Psychological Services Founding Director Dr Tracy Westerman AM and representatives from 6 organisations including various land councils, the Coalition of Peaks, and the Lowitja Institute.
