Voice to Parliament
Sarah CONNOLLY (Laverton) (10:02): It has been nearly six weeks since we last met here in Parliament, and in that time the yes campaign has well and truly started up in Melbourne’s west. It has been absolutely heartening to see so many westies from my electorate championing the Indigenous Voice to Parliament – it makes me really proud, actually – and like so many of my colleagues on this side of the chamber, I will be proudly voting yes. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a real and profound impact for First Nations Australians – to give them more of a say in the things that affect them. We have seen in Victoria just a snippet of what the Voice can achieve through our First Nations Assembly, and we are making progress on our own treaty with First Nations people. We know from listening to Indigenous leaders that this is the preferred way to move forward. It is the result of over 10 years of conversation and consultation with hundreds, if not thousands, of Indigenous elders. What I would like to say to my community is that if you support reconciliation, if you support closing the gap, if you support better and fairer outcomes for First Nations Australians, then I would encourage you to vote yes at the referendum later this year.