First meetings of Referendum Working Group & Referendum Engagement Group

The first meetings of the Referendum Working Group and the Referendum Engagement Group will be held in Canberra today.

The groups will work with Government on the next steps to a referendum in this term of Parliament to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution.

The Referendum Working Group, co-chaired by Minister Linda Burney and Special Envoy Patrick Dodson, includes a broad cross-section of representatives from First Nations communities across Australia.

They will provide advice to the Government on how best to ensure a successful Referendum and focus on the key questions that need to be considered in the coming months, including:

• The timing to conduct a successful referendum;
• Refining the proposed constitutional amendment and question;
• The information on the Voice necessary for a successful referendum

A second meeting will be held with the Referendum Engagement Group, which includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives from the across the country, including: land councils, local governments and community controlled organisations.

They will provide advice about building community understanding, awareness and support for the referendum.

Today’s meetings follow the Prime Minister’s landmark speech at the Garma Festival in north east Arnhem Land, where he released the possible wording of the proposed constitutional amendment and question on the Voice to be put to the Australian people.

Attribute to the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese:

“The constitution is our nation’s birth certificate. 

“It should be a source of pride that all Australians share this continent with Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples, the oldest continuous civilisation on earth. 

“This should be recognised with a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.”

Attribute to Minister Linda Burney:

“This is an important next step on the road to the referendum for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

“The work of the Referendum Working Group and the Referendum Engagement Group will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander views are front and centre in the decision making leading up to the Referendum.

“They will provide us with advice about how to harness the goodwill in the Australian community on this important nation building project.

 Attribute to the Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus:

“This Uluru Statement is an extraordinary act of generosity, friendship and reconciliation.

“The Referendum Working Group will work closely in partnership with government on the road forward.

Attribute to the Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Senator Patrick Dodson:

“This Group is a clear demonstration of our strong commitment to go out and consult as we work to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full.

We’ve got a clear plan to get us from Garma to referendum day.

The first step on that road is to listen to Indigenous Australians on how best to ensure we deliver a successful referendum.”

REFERENDUM WORKING GROUP

• Mr Dale Agius SA, Commissioner for First Nations Voice
• Ms Pat Anderson AO, Co-chair of Uluru Dialogue
• Ms Geraldine Atkinson, Co-chair, First People’s Assembly of Victoria, Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
• Professor Tom Calma AO, Co-chair, Indigenous Voice Co-design groups, Chancellor, University of Canberra, Co-chair, Reconciliation Australia
• Professor Megan Davis, Co-chair of Uluru Dialogue, Pro-Vice Chancellor Indigenous at UNSW
• Mr Rodney Dillon, Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Community Alliance
• Mr Sean Gordon, Managing Director, Gingee Group, Councillor, University of Newcastle
• Dr Jackie Huggins AM, FAHA Co-chair, QLD Treaty Advancement Committee, Co-chair, National Apology Foundation
• Professor Dr Marcia Langton AO, Co-chair, Indigenous Voice Co-design groups, Associate Provost, University of Melbourne
• Mr Thomas Mayor, From the Heart
• Mr Tony McAvoy SC, NT Treaty Commissioner, Barrister
• June Oscar AO, (ex officio) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
• Mr Dean Parkin, From the Heart
• Mr Noel Pearson, Founder of Cape York Institute, From the Heart Advisory Group, Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
• Ms Sally Scales, Uluru Dialogue member, APY Artist
• Mr Napau Pedro Stephen AM, Chairperson, Torres Strait Regional Authority
• Mr Marcus Stewart, Co-chair, First People’s Assembly of Victoria, Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
• Ms Pat Turner AM, Convenor of Coalition of Peaks, Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups, CEO of National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
• The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, Former Minister for Indigenous Australians
• Professor Peter Yu AM, Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups, Vice President, First Nations at ANU
• Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM, Chairman, Yothu Yindi Foundation

REFERENDUM ENGAGEMENT GROUP

Membership of the Referendum Engagement Group will include those on the Working Group and additional people including:

• Mr Thomas Amagula, Deputy Chair, Anindilyakwa Land Council
• Cr Ross Andrews, Mayor, Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council, Australian Local Government Association representative
• Mr Nathan Appo, Institute of Urban Indigenous Health
• Professor Muriel Bamblett AO, CEO, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, Coalition of Peaks representative
• Ms Jennifer Beale, Butucarbin Aboriginal Corporation
• Professor Jack Beetson, Australian Centre for Agriculture & Law – University of New England
• Mr Dameyon Bonson, Founder, Black Rainbow Living Well
• Ms Wendy Brabham, Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative
• Mr Paul Briggs OAM, Executive Chair, Kaiela Institute
• Mr Gavin Brown, CEO PwC Indigenous Consulting
• Mr Selwyn Button, Chair, The Lowitja Institute
• Mr Nicholas Cameron, Chair, Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance
• Ms Shirleen Campbell, Tangentyere Women’s Safety Group
• Cr Danny Chapman, Chairperson, NSW Aboriginal Land Council
• Ms Fiona Cornforth, CEO, Healing Foundation
• Dr Josie Douglas, Executive Director of Policy, Central Land Council
• Ms Katrina Fanning, PSM Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
• Mr Tyronne Garstone, CEO, Kimberley Land Council
• Mr Mick Gooda, Co-chair, QLD Treaty Advancement Committee, Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
• Mr Damian Griffis, CEO of First Peoples Disability Network, Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
• Ms Tanya Hosch, Executive General Manager, Inclusion & Social Policy, AFL
• Mr Paul House, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
• Mr Gibson Farmer, Illortaminni Chairman, Tiwi Land Council
• Ms Deborah Katona, Senior Manager Policy, Northern Land Council
• Cr Esma Livermore, Deputy Mayor, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, Australian Local Government Association representative
• Mr Jamie Lowe, National Native Title Council, Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups, Dr Hannah McGlade Curtin Law School
• Mr Wayne Miller, Chair, Far West Community Leadership Group, Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
• Cr Phillemon Mosby, Mayor, Torres Strait Island Regional Council, Australian Local Government Association representative
• Mr Kado Muir, Activist & Impact Entrepreneur at Dilji, Social Anthropologist
• Ms Karen Mundine, CEO, Reconciliation Australia
• Ms Teela Reid Uluru Dialogue Group, University of Sydney
• Cr Matthew Ryan, Mayor, West Arnhem Regional Council, Australian Local Government Association representative
• Mr Shane Sturgiss, BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation
• Mr Ian Trust AO, National Chair, Empowered Communities, Chairman, Wunan
• Mr Les Turner, CEO, Central Land Council
• Dr Tracy Westerman AM, Founding Director, Indigenous Psychological Services
• Mr Richard Weston, Deputy Children’s Guardian for Aboriginal Children and Young People (NSW), Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
• Mr Sammy Wilson, Traditional Owner, Uluru, Former Chair, Central Land Council
• Mr Scott Wilson, Lead Convenor of SA Aboriginal Community Controlled Network, Coalition of Peaks representative
• Professor Asmi Wood, Professor, ANU College of Law